PROVISIONAL REPORTS AND NOTICES. 451 
each: whether there is a marked difference arising from the father 
or the mother belonging to one of the types in preference to an- 
other ; also whether the mixed form resulting from such inter- 
marriage is known to possess a permanent character, or after 
a certain number of generations to incline to one or other of its 
component types. 
12. Any observation connected with these intermarriages, 
relating to health, longevity, physical and intellectual character, 
will be particularly interesting, as bringing light on a field 
hitherto but little systematically investigated. Even when the 
people appear to be nearly or quite free from intermixture, 
their habits, in respect of intermarriage within larger or smaller 
circles, and the corresponding physical characters of the peo- 
ple, will be very interesting. 
Language. 
13. Do the natives speak a language already known to phi- 
lologists, and if so, state what it is; and notice whether it ex- 
hibit any dialectic peculiarities, as well as the modifications of 
pronunciation and accentuation which it may offer. State also 
the extent to which this dialect may be used, if limits can be 
ascertained, 
14. If the language be little if at all known, endeavour to 
obtain a vocabulary as extensive as circumstances will allow, 
and at least consisting of the numerals, the most common and 
important substantives *, the pronouns in all persons and num- 
bers, adjectives expressive of the commonest qualities, and, if 
possible, a few verbs varied in time and person. The vocabu- 
lary should be tested by the interrogation of different natives, 
and more than one person should be engaged in taking it down 
from their mouths, to avoid, as far as may be, errors arising 
from peculiarities of utterance or defect of hearing. It is like- 
wise of importance that the system of orthography be duly in- 
dicated and strictly adhered to. 
15. Endeavour to take down some piece of native composition, 
such as the ordinary phrases employed in conversation, and any 
other piece of prose which may be attainable ; and specimens 
of metrical composition if such exist. Though these would be 
of comparatively little use without translation, yet independently 
of this some importance is to be attached to the metrical compo- 
sitions if they have a national character and are widely diffused ; 
and, in this case, it might be possible to express some of their 
airs in musical characters. A specimen of known composition 
translated into their language, may also be given, such as the 
* The names of mountains, lakes, rivers, islands, &c, 
262 
