132 Dr Hodgkin on the Progress of Ethnology. 



The thinly but widely scattered inhabitants of the islands 

 of the Pacific exhibit, in a most striking manner, the twofold 

 proofs of community of stock and similarity of language ; yet 

 with such differences in each of these respects, as well as in 

 their manners and traditions, as may, if they be timely stu- 

 died, enable the ethnologist to demonstrate the course which 

 this section of mankind has pursued, and to point out the 

 changes which the lapse of ages has produced, quite as satis- 

 factorily as the learned Niebuhr, and our countryman the late 

 excellent Dr Arnold, have enabled to elucidate in early Italian 

 history. But there is no group of mankind more naturally 

 formed and more clearly defined by geographical limits than 

 that which comprehends the African nations. There is none 

 more beset with difficulties, and yet none which is richer in 

 all the variety of materials to which I have alluded, as en- 

 abling the ethnologist, with the aid of coadjutors of various 

 descriptions, to pursue the interesting investigation with the 

 fullest assurance, that, if he cannot arrive at the ultimate 

 truth, he may confidently approach to it, well repaid with in- 

 teresting discoveries at almost every step which he takes. 



Here we find physical characters the most strongly marked ; 

 languages innumerable, yet referrible to distinct groups cha- 

 racterized by their words, their structure, by distinct diff^e- 

 rences of pronunciation unknown in other languages, yet con- 

 nected by affinities of which the philologist has obtained but a 

 glimpse. Here we have the earliest historic records, whether 

 sacred or profane, to assist us. Here we have the written, 

 the carved, and the painted records of physical characters de- 

 scending into ethnographical distinctions, which cannot fail to 

 be recognised at the present day, of which it will be a suffi- 

 cient example to mention a single Egyptian touch, in which 

 are to be found the drawings of Copts, Foolahs, Jews, and the 

 blackest negroes. Here we have various results of art, either 

 preserved from the remotest periods, or still in operation 

 amongst people who have been for ages cut off from the civi- 

 lized world. Here ethnology may be assisted both by the 

 study of the inferior, animals which man has domesticated, and 

 by that of the irreclaimably savage with which he has had to 

 contend. I will not attempt to extend the present sketch, by 

 adverting to other groups which remain to be mentioned ; not 



