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are the sah , equal to four and a half imperial pints ; the ouiba , containing twelve sah , and the kafiss sixteen ottioas . There is a second scale of weights for precious metals . The coinage begins with the karo & b or farthing , which is nominally equivalent to six and a half bourbe . The silver piastre is worth sixpence ; the bouhamsa or trnhboob half a crown . There are ten , twenty-five , fifty , and

hundred piastre pieces in gold , of which the mosfc common ara the twenty-five piastre pieces , representing just fifteen francs . " Of tho Sfaxin and other Tunisian Moors , we read that ifc is a general custom " to carry , under the turban and above the ear , a small bouquet—sometimes a couple of rosebuds , or a rosebud in a ring of orange-blossoms . The contrast with the snowy white ,

strawcoloured silk , or green cotton turban is very telling ; and further , that they exhibit grace , both of dress and manner , whioh does not characterise the Egyptians or Syrians , and which reealls their ancestors , the refined Moors of Granada and Cordova . " There are no bazaars where such delicacy of taste , in dress and colour , aro to be seen as in Tunis . The people seem tasteful by instinct , and it is a

positive treat to sit aud watch them . They reflect the polish and good breeding of the Spanish Moors , and are noted for their intelligence . " We read further , that the gardens of Sfax are of immense extent : " There are no less than twelve thousand of them about the city . There is nofc a really poor man in Sfax ; each one has his ' garden' outside the walls , if only containing a fig-tree and

half-a-dozen olive trees . Tho man who comes to beg for bread has his country-seat , though ifc may be only a dozen yards square . " But the mosfc important place which the author visited is the City of Cairaoan or Kairwau , which Mr . Eae recommends intending tourists to bo careful in visiting . This is the religious capital of Tunis , and it is necessary to be very circumspect in moving about it .

It is rich in remains , many noble shafts and capitals having been transported from Cyreno . Thus Dr . Shaw is quoted as saying , " We have several fragments of the ancient architecture at this place , and the Great Mosque is accounted the most magnificent , as well as the most sacred in the Barbary States . It it supported by an almost incredible number of granite pillars . The Inhabitants told me , for a

Christian is nofc permitted to enter the mosques of the Mahometans , that there are no fewer than five hundred : yet , among the great Variety of Columns and the ancient Materials used in this largo and beautiful Structure , I oould not be informed of one single Inscription . " Temple , another writer , is also quoted : " Kairwau is , as is well known , a sacred or holy town , the present hot-bed of all the bigotry

of Mohammedanism in Africa . The traveller who wishes to enter its walls must take upon himself all the risks of the enterprise . " And then the same writer ' s remarks as to the difficulties under which they traversed the town are quoted : " Our promenades through the town were managed with the greatest mystery , the Ka'id at first positively refused to let us walk out , except after sunset . After

further difficulties he appointed au officer to attend us , making us promise not to stare about too much , take notes , drawings , or speak in any European language . Disguised in Arab dress , we paraded through the town , observing a dignified silence and a steady solemn pace . More than one walk we were not allowed to take , as I was told that if we were known to be Christians whilst walking about , we

might be torn to pieces by the infuriated populace . " As to the precautions which the author took with all this before him , we follow his statement in pp . 205-9 , with considerable amusement . The great difficulty was in obtaining a dye for the face and hands which would last for some days . However , he received at length a letter to the effect that he could enter the city under the protection of an escort

of soldiers . Accordingly he set out , and in due course reaches a suburb of the city . His experiences here are noted at pp . 218-20 . Afterwards , he enters the city and we havo a full account of his sojourn , how he moved about , always attended by a body-guard , how he was not nnfrequently hooted by boys , and how he occasionlly received hard words from children of a larger growth . Following

this is a brief historical sketch of the city , and then further details of his visit to the holy city . All this is extremely interesting , and Mr . Eae tells his story admirably . In fact , the work , taking it as a whole , is most agreeably written , while that portion of it which describes the city of Kairwau is , as wo have said , in the highest degree interesting .

Mottoes and Aphorisms from Shakespere : Arranged alphabetically , with a copious index of words aud ideas . Second Edition . London John Hogg , Paternoster-row . 1877 . IT is quite unnecessary we should speak at any length of a work of this description . The fact that it has reached a second edition is sufficient to show the appreciation in which it is held . There are

just 2 , 700 quotations from our great national poet , and of these more than one hundred and sixty have been added in the present issue . They refer to every imaginable subject , so that any one on the look out for a device , or for an apt quotation which will serve to illustrate some particular point , will have no difficulty in finding one to suit bis purpose . He has but to refer to the index for tho word which he is

desirous of illustrating , and against it he will find the number , or numbers , of the passages relating to it . Thus , on the subject of "Love " he will have the choice of more than one hundred passages , on " Philosophy " of some half-a-dozen , on "Pity" of about as many . Then , as each motto has appended a reference showing from which of the plays or poems it is taken , a further consultation of the play or poem will enable him to gather from the context the exact force or

bearing of tho motto , and whether it will be applicable to the kind of idea he desires to illustrate . As the index contains some 9 , 000 words or ideas , which are fitted with mottoes or aphorisms , our readers will be able to judge of the value of the work , —which it is impossible to estimate too highly . To the literary man and the journalist it must prove especially useful . With this little volume at hand when he is writing , he will be able to hit on the exact passage ho may wish to quote , without moving from his chair and breaking

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the thread of his article or essay . As regards tho work of compilation , it has been done most carefully , and in the many cases we have tested for accuracy , we have found them , without exception , to be correct transcripts from the original , both verbally and in respect of punctuation . Wo repeat , the work is a mosfc useful one , and we are glad to have had the opportuity of expressing a favourable opinion of its merits .

Periodical Literature.

PERIODICAL LITERATURE .

THE serials in Cassell's Family Magazine progress most favourably . In " Time shall try , " the scene between Dora and Harry Gwynno is admirably contrived , though the latter exhibits a wilfulness of misunderstanding which is hardly in consonance with tho previous feel , ings he has shown . "Suspense , " by the author of "A Hard Case , " is well written , and impresses us more favourably the further it

advances . " Snowed up , by tho author of " A ttace for Life , is neatly told , but we are not favourably impressed with the illustrations . Of the other contents it is almost unnecessary wo should say they are on a level with the ordinary contributions . Mr . Payne writes admirably on " Soup , " and we think housewives will do well if they accept his advice on this interesting part of a dinner . Then

there is a paper on tho " Higher Examinations for Women , " whioh is perhaps moro than u « ually a propos just now when tho question of th » admission of women to onr university degrees has been brought forward with more than the usual prominence . Another useful educational paper will he found in the shape of an article on " Educa . tional German Universities , " and Lady Georgina Wilson contributes a

sketch of "A Belgian Day Nursery . " A Family Doctor speaks with his usual force ou " Harmless Eequisites for the Toilet , " aud Mr . Munro , C . E . writes at somo length on the " Telephone , " his sketch being one of the most interesting coutributions to the current num . ber . Thoso who have been studying the events of the war , which , according to the latest accounts is concluded , will find much pleasure in reading the gallant exploit of an English officer in the service of

Eussia performed more than a century ago . The title of the paper is '' Euuuing the Gauntlet of the Dardenulles , " and in alone su'ficieut to ensure the attention of the reader . The author of ¦ ' Beauty Spots" contributes "A Dream of the Western Wye , " and a very agreeable piece of descriptive writing it is . Some other papers and the" Gatherer's" notes complete an excellent number . We notice that the illustrations are not as good as usual .

The current number of the Countries of the World deals , in the first instance , with scenes in the United States , and thence we pass to Mexico . The account of the changes of Government through which the latter country has passed , is told very tersely . The subsequent chapters , in which the sub-divisions , climate , aud products of the country are described , are interesting . The illustrations

throughout the whole number are admirable , the following baiug among the most noteworthy , mamely : " View of Mount Mansfield , Vermont , " — the frontispiece ; " View on the Missisquoi Hirer , Vermont ; " "View of Vera Cruz , on the Gulf of Mexico ; " " Colossal Head Carved in Stone in an Aztec ruin at Izamal , in Yucatan . " " Aloes ( Agave Americana ) in bloom ; " "Tropical Climber ; " and " Lagoon in the Tierras Calientes . "

Successive numbers of Temple Bar hard'y require to be noticed , for there is seldom , if ever , any deviation from the ordinary standard of excellence , Occasionally , of course , we light upon contributions which are comparatively feeble , but more frequently it happens that we meet with an article which is above the Temple Bar level . In the current number will be found a tale by Mr . D . E . Bandmann , entitled

" The Stroller . " It is excellently well put together , and the style in which it is written is certain to enlist the favour ., ble consideration of the reader . The story is of the son of a woman in poor circumstances , who , thanks , however , to his mother's exertions , is provided with means sufficient for him to pursue his studies at some college ; but he happens to witness the performance of a company of strolling

players , and is immediately stage-smitten . He is , in consequence , sent off to college , and in time meets the same company . In spite of his mother's curse , he resolves on adopting the stage as his profession . He makes a favourable impression , and soon finds himself rising in public favour . Chance brings him in the way oi a beautiful girl , with whom he looks forward to unite himself , but the fates or

Mr . Bandmann have willed it should be otherwise , and their acquaintance ends mosfc tragically . We imagine those who read this story of Mr . Bandmann's will be on the look out for further contributions from his pen . Two other articles are to be commended : " Our Old Actors —Charles Macklin , " and " Dangers of Alpine Mountaineering . " The serial tales , one of which "Jet ; her Face or her Fortune , " by Mrs . Edwardes , is commenced this month , are worth reading .

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

A Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Scotland was - £ * - hold on Monday afternoon iu the Freemasons' Halt , tlie 41 . wt Worshipful the Grand Master Mason , Sir Michael E . Shaw Stewart , on the throne . Bro . F . A . Barrow was in his place as Heui ^ r Giu . ua Warden , and Bro . E . F . Shaw Stewart , Senior Grand Deacon , acted as Junior Grand Warden . There was a largo attendance of the

brethren ; and amongst those present were : —Bros . Henry Ingiis of Torsouce Depute Grand Master , Colonel Montgomerie Nelson Prov . Grand Master of Glasgow , Lauderdale Maitland P . G . M . of Dumfries

John C . Forrest P . G . M . of Lanark , D . Murray Lyon Graud ^ Secretary , David Kinnear Grand Cashier , the Eev . Dr . Gray Grand Chaplain , William Hay Grand Architect , Alexander Hay Grand Jeweller , Thomas Halketfc Grand Bible Bearer , Captain Hills Grand Marshal