Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 17, 1906.djvu/25

 Presidential Address. 15

the Origin of Priesthood (E. Kendes), by G. Landtmann. These pamphlets are not of first-rate importance, but they are surely to be welcomed as a hopeful sign, England has the best show, however, in this department, although we have done little in the way of original research. We have first of all a leaf of the new Golden Bough, in Mr. Frazer's lectures on the Origin of King- ship. His general view is already well known, and it is here supported by new evidence. Whilst some critics have been inclined to think that the superstructure was rather too large for the base, all are agreed as to the interest of the matter and the charm of the style ; and in these lectures readers will enjoy almost as much as the hearers did his dry humour. Then, again, we have another brilliant display from Professor Ridgeway, On the Thoroughbred Horse. A superficial reader might imagine this book to be better suited for notice in the Sporting Times than in Folk-Lore ; but the learned author has other objects in view than sport. He traces the history of the horse in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, dis- entangles its breeds, and discusses the effects of various kinds of crossing. The result of the arguing is, to place the origin of the first breed of horses, the Arab, in Libya, whence it spread to Arabia, Barbary, and Europe, and in its journeys exercised a deep influence on his- tory. The question of the origin of the horse bears on the origin of Poseidon Hippios ; and many interest- ing sidelights are thrown on difficult questions by this essay.^

But now we come to the most important question

^ I have to thank Mr. Frazer and Mr. Major for help kindly given in this brief survey.

It is not out of place to note one book which in the guise of a child's tale gives a vivid picture of the life of the Australian blackfellows, The Little Black Princess, by Jeannie Gunn (Moring). There are twenty four-plates : some depict groups of natives, posed so as to illustrate the story ; others show native implements, weapons, paintings, and the like.