452 REPORT—1840. 
first chapter of Genesis, the fifteenth chapter of Luke’s Gospel, 
and the Lord’s Prayer. 
16. Endeavour to ascertain whether the language is exten- 
sively spoken or understood, and whether there are different 
languages spoken by men having similar physical characters 
obviously connecting them as a race, or if differing somewhat 
in this respect, inhabiting a particular geographical tract. 
When such groups are said to possess different languages, 
endeavour, as far as possible, to ascertain their number, the 
sources whence each is derived, and the languages to which it 
is allied; and also the circumstances, geographical or political, 
which may account for these distinctions. 
(For further information connected with the investigation 
of languages, reference is made to a short essay on this subject 
read to the Philological Society of London. ] 
Individual and Family Life. 
17. Are there any ceremonies connected with the birth of a 
child? Is there any difference whether the child be male or 
female ? 
18. Does infanticide occur to any considerable extent, and 
if it does, to what causes is it to be referred, want of affection, 
deficient subsistence, or superstition ? 
19. Are children exposed, and from what causes, whether 
superstition, want of subsistence or other difficulties, or from 
deformity, general infirmity, or other causes of aversion ? 
20. What is the practice as to dressing and cradling children, 
and are there any circumstances connected with it calculated 
to modify their form ; for example, to compress the forehead, 
as amongst the western Americans; to flatten the occiput, 
as amongst most Americans, by the flat straight board to which 
the child is attached; to occasion the lateral distortion of the 
head, by allowing it to remain too long in one position on the 
hand of the nurse, as amongst the inhabitants of the South Seas? 
21. Are there any methods adopted, by which other parts of 
the body may be affected, such as the turning in of the toes, 
as amongst the North Americans; the modification of the whole 
foot, as amongst the Chinese ? 
22. How are the children educated, what are they taught, 
and are any methods adopted to modify their character, such 
as to implant courage, impatience of control, endurance of 
pain and privation, or, on the contrary, submission, and to 
what authorities, cowardice, artifice ? 
23. Is there anything remarkable amongst the sports and 
amusements of children, or in their infantile songs or tales ? 
