poetry, music, agriculture, trade and commerce, navigation; and, which of all things affords the most important aids in all researches as to the origin and affinities of different tribes or races, their languages and dialects.

On almost every topic now enumerated our acquaintance with remote nations is at present much more extensive than it was a quarter of a century ago; but on all it is still very defective. We shall touch upon the different subjects of this investigation in a very brief manner, with a view to point out what remains to be done in each particular, and to offer some suggestions as to the best method of proceeding.

I. Of the Physical Characters of Nations.

The physical description of any tribe or race must commence with an account of the more striking and obvious characteristics of complexion, features, figure, and stature.

In reference to the complexion or colour, it is not enough to know generally whether it is black, or white, or brown. The exact shade of colour, should be described as it prevails in the majority of persons in any tribe, and all the variations should be noted which occur in indi. viduals. If a great difference of colour should be observed in the people of the same community, care should be taken, by repeated inquiries, to ascertain, if possible, whether such diversities are merely accidental varieties, or are connected with any distinction of tribe or caste. In many countries tribes exist who, while they preserve their stock distinct by avoiding intermarriages, continue to differ from each other in colour and other particulars, though in other instances great varieties are observed within the limits of the same race, which appear as if they were capricious and accidental deviations, analogous to those varieties which appear in cattle and other domestic animals. A careful inquiry as to the history of individuals and families will sometimes determine how far the pheno

mena alluded to may be referable to either of these observations.

The shape of the features and the form and expression of the countenance should be described. For this purpose words afford but very imperfect means of communicating correct ideas. It will be advisable in all instances to obtain, if possible, correct portraits of persons of both sexes, and these should be coloured so as to represent the complexion as well as the form of the countenance. If no artist should be present who is capable of taking a likeness, the form of the features may at least be described by a profile or shaded outline. The use of photography, however, now affords a great facility for effecting this object.

The colour of the eyes should be noted, as well as the direction of the eyebrows: whether oblique, as in the Chinese and some Tartar races, and standing upwards towards the temples, or straight and parallel to the axes of the orbits, as in most European heads.

The hair, whether woolly and crisp, or curled and wavy, or straight and flowing, should be described, and specimens obtained of it. Notice should be taken of any varieties of the hair which occur in any particular tribe, there being great varieties in the nature of the hair in some races, while in others it is nearly uniform. Its colour should also be remarked.

An account should be taken of the average stature and weight in both sexes. This can only be obtained by the actual measurement and weighing of a considerable number of individuals, and the number and extent of the measurements should be mentioned. The proportional stature of the different sexes differing in different races, an account should be taken of this fact. Extreme cases should be noticed.

The proportion between the length of the limbs and the sternum, and the height of the body and the breadth of the pelvis, should be ascertained, and the length of the forearm in proportion to the stature of the body. This is known to be much greater in some races than in others.

Particular attention should be paid to the shape and relative size of the head, since this forms one of the principal characters distinguishing the several tribes of the human family from each other. The most authentic testimony in regard to this particular, and one which will be very acceptable to scientific men in this country, will be afforded by bringing home a collection of skulls, if they can be procured. In that case it would be necessary to select those skulls for specimens which afford the best idea of the prevailing form of the head in the particular tribe; and, if several forms are observed in any race of people, which is the case in some islands of the Pacific Ocean, specimens should be sought which serve to identify every leading variety. If skulls cannot be procured, the best substitute will be casts of heads. Failing these, it will be requisite to take measurements. Such measurements should state the proportion between the longitudinal and transverse diameters of the skull, which will show whether the skulls of the tribe belong to the elongated form or to a rounder one. The facial angle may also be taken, formed by two lines, one of which falls from the forehead slanting over the edge of the upper jaw-bone, and the other passing from the meatus auditorius to the basis of the nose. The breadth of the face should also be taken by measuring the space between the zygomatic arches. In well-formed heads of the European type, the lateral surfaces of the zygomatic arches are parallel to the temples or the lateral surface of the frontal bone; so that the breadth of the forehead above the eyes is equal to the breadth of the face from cheek-bone to cheek-bone, measured by a line passing across the bridge of the nose. But, in the Turanian type, common to the Chinese, Mongolians, and other nations of High Asia, the forehead is so much more narrow than the face as to give the upper part of the head almost a pyramidal form. An account should be taken of these characteristics, which most obviously distinguish the High Asiatic from the European type, and likewise of the extent of the upper and lower

jaws, an excess of which is the chief peculiarity in the head of the Negro, and of other races approaching the Negro type. The oval, pyramidal, and prognathous types, as above described, constitute the three leading varieties in the form of the human head, but, together with the description of these characters, notice should be taken of every peculiarity that can be detected on a careful inspection of the cranium, or of the heads of living persons, when skulls cannot be obtained.

Attention should also be paid to any artificial means employed to modify the natural structure of the skull, either by the use of bandages which have the effect of lengthening it, or of applications for depressing it in certain parts.

Observations on the form and structure of the body should be followed by inquiries which belong to the department of physiology, which includes all that relates to the functions of life. Under this head we must mention inquiries respecting the senses or sensorial faculties. It is well known that there are differences between the different tribes of men in regard to the perfection of these faculties, and that some of the nomadic nations of High Asia, for example, have a remarkably acute-sight and hearing, while other nations are equally noted for the perfection of taste and smell. Observations on these particulars belong to the physical character of each tribe.

races.

Attempts should likewise be made to obtain information as to the relative degrees of muscular strength in various An instrument invented for this purpose has been termed the dynamometer. If it should not be at hand, the same purpose may be answered by experiments showing what weights a given number of men can raise by their individual efforts.

Other physiological characteristics should be investigated when opportunity can be found of obtaining information that may be satisfactory respecting them: such are the average length of life in any tribe; the ages of puberty and of the cessation of child-bearing, and all other facts connected with the animal economy, such as the number

of children in families. raised by physiologists as to the phenomena connected with the functions of the female, whether they are subject to similar laws in the different races of human beings; and, although, generally speaking, the result of such inquiries has been to show that no important difference exists, it is still right to pursue the inquiry in regard to newly discovered tribes, whenever opportunity is afforded by the accidental residence of medical persons in any place, or other contingent causes may promise to afford accurate results.

Various questions have been

Pathological observations are nearly connected with physiology. It behoves the traveller to collect whatever information he can acquire as to the diseases prevalent in any tribe of people, or among the inhabitants of any country which it is his fortune to explore.

II. Characteristics of the State of Society, &c.

Questions which have regard to men in their social state, or as members of tribes or communities, take a much wider scope than the personal history of individuals. The ordinary habits of life and the modes of obtaining subsistence are the first topics that present themselves when we proceed to this branch of the subject. The rudest or most simple stage of human society is not without its appropriate arts. Some of these indicate as much enterprise and ingenuity, and as great activity of the intellectual faculties, as the practices of more civilized men. People who subsist on the spontaneous fruits of the earth, without pasture of cattle or cultivation of the soil, must exercise great ability in merely obtaining the means of subsistence. This is called the hunting state. It is not always a primitive condition of men. The history of the South African nations proves that tribes of people may sink into it from a higher state. The Bushmen once resembled the pastoral Hottentots; and even the African bushmen, as well as the Australian savages and the most destitute of the Esquimaux and other American tribes,