Atlas Ethnographique du Globe, 395 



Linguistic i*^ or languages considered in their relation to each 

 other. We shall briefly enumerate a few of the principal 

 advantages which are thus contemplated. 



M. Balbi considers language as the principal character by 

 which nations may be distinguishea ; and as furnishing 

 occasionally the otiIt/ guide to the Historian and the Geo- 

 grapher. The truth of this position it would be difficult 

 to contest, since the relation of languages is the only one 

 which, to a certain point, is unalterable; whilst, considered 

 in their geographical or political relations, nations are 

 subject to continual change. To impress more strongly 

 the importance of this hitherto almost neglected study, 

 M. Balbi instances many serious errors committed by authors 

 of distinguished reputation, which would certainly have been 

 avoided, had due regard been paid to Ethnography as an 

 element essential in their reasonings. 



The application of this science is shown to various branches 

 of human knowledge ; to ancient and modern geography ; to 

 botany, to zoology, and mineralogy ; and in tracing the early 

 progress of civilization in different countries. We may 

 mstance as applications which M. Balbi has himself made 

 of the science of which he has endeavoured to establish 

 the foundation, — the proofs which he has collected of the 

 great extension of the Guarami in America ; of the Celtic, 

 Germanic, and Basque nations in Europe; of the Persian 

 origin of the Boukares, and of the Ossettes ; the common 

 descent of the people of Lapland and of Hungary ; and the 

 essential difference between the Ouigours and the Yougours, 

 By an analysis and comparison of their respective languages, 

 he shows that the Lettons have received their civilization 

 from the Germans, and the Amazigh from the Arabians; 

 that these last people have had considerable influence on the 

 civilization of the Portuguese and Spaniards ; and by an 

 ingenious investigation, of which the facts supporting it are 

 taken from Crawford's History of the Indian Archipelago^ 

 the race inhabiting the South Sea Islands is shown to have 

 possessed a native centre of civilization. By the evidence 

 also of Language, it is proved that the cat, the dog, and 

 the pig are indigenous in that quarter of the globe ; and the 

 native country of a variety of other animals, and of plants, 

 is satisfactorily traced. 



Having shown the many useful purposes to which the 

 examination of languages may be applied, M. Balbi guards 

 against the danger of pressing too far reasonings founded on 

 analogy, or of resting too much on Ethnological inferences, 



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