480 PROCEEDINGS. 
in fact the same race, as we judge by their language, with the 
Manchus of to-day. They are now in a state of intellectual decline, 
as we judge by their ethnological connection with other races 
observable in their vocabularies. Researches into the langnages 
and customs of the outlying tribes of the race to which the Manchus 
belong are likely to give inaccurate views as to the causes of the 
Manchus having acquired their present power. We ask why they — 
have been able to subdue and to hold in subjection a nation so 
much mightier than themselves as the Chinese? In the answer 
to this question we must not lose sight of the fact that they belong 
to a race, which during millenniums has occupied in Asia those 
countries we call Manchuria, and from which it has from time to 
time emerged to acquire a temporary political importance. The 
vocabularies of the Tungusic tribes contain words which show 
connection with the Chinese, the J: apanese, the Mongol, the — 
Turkish, ete. For instance kedw, wind in Goldi, is the Japanese 
kaze. 
Mr. Taytor in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. Fraser, which 
Mr. von Mollendorff seconded, referred to one or two points in the — 
interesting paper just read. The custom which the Orotchis have, 
for instance of dipping their fishing-nets in reindeer’s blood to 
preserve them, is very similar to a custom prevailing among the 
people of Formosa and of some parts of China, namely that of © 
dipping new nets and lines in general in pig’s blood, which keeps — 
them from flossing. The witcheraft of the Orotchis also is very 
similar to that among the aborigines of Formosa. 
General Mesny and Mr. Kinoswinn took part also in the s 
discussion that followed, and the Chairman brought the proceedings — 
to a close by saying :—The Orotchi and Goldi dialects belong to 
the Tungusic stock, as appears on examination. A strong peculiarity 3 
in them, as in Mongol and Turkish, is that the first, second and 
third personal pronouns are the same as our own. “Me” is the 
first personal pronoun throughout Tartary; more than this; it is 
also the basis of the pronominal suffix to the verb. The verb tree 
is constructed by placing this pronoun at the end for the person 
43 in languages of the Indo-European stock. This fact, joined 
