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^[[Man's influence on the vegetation of Barbados 1627-1800 by David Watts (Hull) Univ. Hull oceds Papers in Geog.No.4 1966]] VII + 96 pp]]

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that agricultural Arawaks and/or Caribs had occupied the island by at least 1000 A.D.  Nor does this view allow for ecological disturbances, such as tree-felling and the introduction of feral livestock, resulting from the occasional visits of European mariners in pre-colonial times.

In the third and fourth chapters, which deal respectively with forest clearance 1627 to 1665 and plant introduction 1627 to 1800, we are on firmer ground.  Very thorough use has been made of documentary sources for these periods and a impressive account emerges of the stages by which native vegetation was modified and widely replaced by alien crops, ornamentals and weeds.  The information on the dates and routes by which species were introduced will be of particular interest to students of plant exchange within the tropics, but it is regrettable that no attempt has been made to present these data in a form of maps or diagrams and that references are cited without page numbers.

Ecological generations are offered in a few concluding paragraphs, but they reinforce the impression that the value of this monograph lies more in its well documented record of forest clearance and plant introduction than in its rather sketchy interpretation on the present and past ecology of [[underlined]] Barbados. [[underlined]]              D. R. Harris 

WEST INDIES. By Philip Sherlock. London: Thames and Hudson, 1966 8 1/2 by 6 inches; 215 pages;  illustrations, maps. 35$

Most of the many books on West Indies that have been published in recent years have been written from a European on Northern American viewpoint.  The most usual approach has been that of the bemused visitor who has fallen under the spell of the islands' exotic scenery and romantic history.  This book in an exception.  Its author is a native born Jamaican, now Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, and he describes with sympathetic insight the blend of American environment, African traditions and European institutions that makes the West Indian 'colonial' culture unique.  Like the West Indian novelist, V.S. Naipaul, Dr. Sherlock knows that colonialism has a much deeper meaning for the West Indian than for the more fortunate African, who 'has never been wholly severed from the cradle of continuous culture and tradition', and his writing carries the more conviction because he interprets West Indian history and society from this point of view.

The book deals essentially with the English-speaking islands and the first eight chapters are devoted to an historical account of the discovery of the West Indies, their peopling from Europe and Africa, and their economic, political and social evolution.  In the last four chapters Dr. Sherlock briefly analyses current economic problems, examines family organization, religion and education, explores the richness of West Indian folklore and concludes with a perceptive interpretation of the themes that most concern modern West Indian writers.  The value of this book is further enhanced by well chosen illustrations, a bibliography and two short factual appendixes listing people and places.     D.R. Harris

SOUTH AMERICA

AMAZONIAN SOILS. A reconnaissance of soils of the Brazilian Amazon region. By W. G. SOMBROEK. Wageningen, Netherlands: Centre for Agricultural Publications and Documentation, 1966. 9 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches; 292 pages; text-figures, tables, and photographs, 6 fold-out maps and diagrams, two accompanying tables. 90$ 

Amazonian soils is in essence the study in fair detail of the soils of some restricted localities.  Four of these areas are in the east of the basin-three on the coast near Belem and one along the highway which cuts south towards Brasilia.  This new road provides on the way a wealth of fresh cuttings which reveal some surprising sections of the soils and of the plinthite. One more sizeable area near Manaos has been surveyed, and for the rest of the basin II sites (mostly on the main rivers) have been examined.

The soils and the plinthite in these areas have been surveyed and analyzed thoroughly. The examination of the plinthite reveals some very useful distinctions between fossil