OF THE HUMAN FAMILY. 387 



in the duration of their political existence, of the Asiatic stocks. For these reasons 

 their system of consanguinity and affinity would be invested witli special import- 

 ance. This importance is greatly enhanced by its extraordinary cliaracter. 



1. Tamil. Tiie Tamilian system of relationship will be first considered. An 

 analysis sufficiently complete to develop its fundamental characteristics Avould be 

 nearly a literal transcript of that previously given of the system of the Seneca- 

 Iroquois. For the purpose of comparison, this analysis is given in the subjoined 

 note, to which reference is made.' 



is derived from the same source as tlie Panjilbi and Sindhi, but it unquestionably contains a Drd- 

 vidian element, an element which has probably been derived from a remnant of the ancient Dra- 

 vidian race incorporated with the Brahuis. The discovery of this DrSvidian element in a language 

 spoken beyond the Indus proves that Dravidians, like the Aryans, the Grasco-Scythians, and the 

 Turco-Mongolians, entered India by tiie northwestern route." Caldwell's Dravidian Comp. Gram. 

 Intr., p. 23. 



' Analysis of the Tamilian System of Relationship : — 



I. Relatives by blood or marriage are not described by a combination of the primary terms, but 

 each and all are so classified as to fall under the recognized relationships, for each of which there is 

 a special term. Exceptions elsewhere stated. 



II. The several collateral lines are ultimately merged in the lineal line. 



III. All the brothers and sisters of my grandfather and of my grandmother are my grandfathers 

 and grandmothers; but they are distinguished into elder or younger, as they are older or younger 

 than my own grandparents. All the brothers and sisters of my several ancestors above grand- 

 parents are distinguished in the same manner, and also numerically, according to the degree of 

 removal. All of my descendants below grandchildren are also distinguished from each other 

 numerically. 



IV. The relationship of brother and sister is conceived in the twofold form of elder and younger. 

 There is one term for elder brother, and another for younger brother ; one term for elder sister, and 

 another for younger sister: and no term for brother or sister in the abstract. 



V. All the children of several brothers are brothers and sisters to each other, and they use inter- 

 changeably the same terms which they apply to an own brother and sister. 



VI. All the sons of the sons of several brothers are brothers to each other, and the sons of the 

 latter are brothers again ; and the same relationship of males, in the male line, continues downward 

 theoretically, ad infinitum, so long as the persons stand at equal removes from the original brothers ; 

 but when one is further removed than the other, by a single degree, the rule which turns the col- 

 lateral into the lineal line at once applies; thus, the son of one of these, my elder or younger 

 brothers, becomes my son, and the son of the latter my grandson. 



VII. All the children of several sisters are brothers and sisters to each other, and the terms of 

 relationship are applied in the same manner as before stated in the case of the children of several 

 brothers. 



VIII. All the daughters of the daughters of several sisters are sisters to each other; and the 

 relationship of females, in the female line, continues to be that of sisters, elder or younger, at equal 

 removes, theoretically, ad infinitum, as in the case of the male descendants of brothers, and with the 

 same consequences if one of them is further removed than another by a single degree from the original 

 sisters. 



IX. All the children of several brothers, on the one hand, are cousins to all the cbildren of their 

 several sisters on the other. 



X. All the sons of several male cousins, and all the daughters of several female cousins, are them- 

 selves cousins respectively to each other; and the same relationship of males, in the male line, and 

 of females, in the female line, continues to be that of cousins at equal removes, theoretically, ad 

 infinitum,. 



XI. With Ego a male, the children of ray male cousins are my nephews and nieces, and of my 

 female cousins are my sons and daughters. With Ega a female, the children of my male cousins are 



