BOOKS OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1824, 9 August 1913, Page 9

BOOKS OF THE DAY.

SPORT AND ADVENTURE BEYOND THE ZAMBESI. ■ A year or two ago appeared an exceedingly amusing book dealing with a lady's adventures in South Africa during and after the Boer war, and entitled "Pettiwat ■ I'ilgnms on Truic." 'i'lie auinoi Mrs. Fred. Maturin (Edith Cecilo Porch), now gives us a now book, "Adventures Beyond the Zambesi, of the O'Flahcrty; the Insular Miss; the Soldier Man; and tho Kobel-N onian" (London, George Bell and Sons; per Whitcombe and Tombs). ' Mrs. Maturin is the Kcfcel Woman of the book, which gives a very lively and most entertaining account of the experiences and adventures of herself and her-husband, and of ; h jolly, but rather reckless young Irishman, and of a somewhat prim but essentially practical lady friend (tho Insular Miss), amidst t'he forests and swamps of the territory which lies between'the Zambesi and tho great lakes. .' Mrs.. Maturin's sense of humour is vory keen, and she succeeds in making, quite ordinary camping experiences interesting to her readers.' " Her descriptions of the native servants and carriers are very humorous, anil she lias a most a'p. preciative eye for the wild scenic beauties of the'region traversed. Evidently an ardent Suffragette, she does not keep "the ! Cause" as much in the background as one might think would and should be •the case in a record of sport and adventure in South Africa, but her allusions to tho great struggle now proceeding in England are, I must confess, expressed with 60' much gcod-natured and sprightly humour that they, .will* be: forgiven, for their occasional'.interruption of the nar-rative.".''-The 'leadman, interpreter' and chief body servant .of, the party, a'Tanfanyika boy, rejoiced in tho name of [ymn. Book. He was a "Christian," which, however, did not prevent him rote' bing his employers whenever he could.The party met, with excellent sport, and many exciting adventures, including more than one rather alarming encounter with lions. Mrs. Maturin'9 high spirits never desert her, even, when the pnrty finds itself, gsit sometimes does, in a rather tight place, and she can be congratulated'upon having given' us ■ a i'most original and amusing b00k.,. The,illustrations, from photographs taken by tlie OTlaherty, are exceptionally good..' (Price, Ds.)'..