60 SYSTEMS OF CONSANGUINITY AND AFFINITY 



interestino- race of men. Their capabilities for future improvement may be inferred 

 from the progress made by the Magyars and Finns. The system of rehxtionship 

 of the Ugrian nations, so far as it is given in the Table, is limited to that form of it 

 which now prevails among the Finns of Finland, the Esthonians, and the INIagyars. 

 Of these, the first two belong to the same and the third to a different subdivision 

 of the Ugrian stock. Presumptively, the system of the remaining nations is the 

 same in fundamental characteristics ; but a knowledge of their forms is necessary 

 to the determination of that fact. 



1. Finns. — Two schedules were received, fully and minutely filled out with the 

 system of consanguinity and affinity of the Finns. One of them was prepared by 

 Mr. G. Selin, a student in the University of Helsingfors, at the request of the late 

 President Retzius ; and the other by Dr. Urjo Koskinen, one of the Faculty of the 

 University of Jacobstad, both of them Finns. The differences between the two 

 schedules were so slight, although made without any knowledge of each other's 

 work, that they are given in the Table as one under their joint names. A special 

 notation was furnished with each schedule, but the pronunciation of the words is 

 indicated by the common characters.' 



As it is important to know the precise character of the Finn system, it will be 

 presented with more fulness than in previous cases. 



There are no terms in this language for ancestors above father and mother, 

 except enkl-o, grandmother ; or for descendants below son and daughter. They 

 are described, with the exception named, by an augmentation or reduplication of 

 the primary terms. Among the Turanian nations the relationship of brother and 

 sister is conceived in the twofold form of elder and younger, as is shown by the 

 possession of separate terms for these relationships, and the absence, usually, of 

 terms for brother and sister in the abstract. The Finns, in this respect, follow the 

 usage of the Aryan and Semitic families. 



In the first collateral line male, the scries is as follows : Brother, son of brother, 

 son of son of brother, and son of son of son of brother. There is a term for nephew, 

 nepdd, but none for niece ; while the female branch of this line necessarily employs 

 the descriptive method, the male has the same, and also a second form, as follows : 

 Brother, nepheio, son of nephew, and son of son of nephew. 



There are separate terms for paternal and maternal uncles, a common term for 

 aunt, and two terms for cousin, which give to the Finn nomenclature quite a fidl 

 development, and to its form a sensible approach to the Roman. 



• Mr. Selin, in his letter, remarks : " The information relating to the ancient condition of the Fin- 

 nish nation is scarce and defective, which is not surprising, the nation having been for seven centu- 

 ries subjected to foreign influence and subdued, before they had brought forth a history of their 

 own, or reached any high degree of culture. The ancient national songs, proverbs, and fables, which 

 have been gathered of late, with great zeal and application, are almost the only source from which we 

 derive any knowledge of the life, customs, and institutions of our ancestors. Among these monu- 

 ments of times gone by, the celebrated cycle of songs called "Kalevala" stands foremost. Concern- 

 ing most of the circumstances of which you desire to be informed, all positive knowledge is wanting. 

 . . . . No division into tribes has as yet been traced among the Finns. We call ourselves 

 Susmalaiset." 



