94 _REPORT—1848. 
clusions of special homology, the author contended that they were equally inconclu- 
sive against the determination of general homologies. He briefly stated the facts 
confirmatory of the ideas of Aristotle and Cuvier as to the special homology of the 
arms of man with the pectoral fins of fish, and summed up the arguments that had 
been given in his work on the ‘Homologies of the Skeleton,’ in favour of viewing the 
attachment of the scapular arch to the occiput in fishes, as the normal one, in rela- 
tion to the archetype, and as proving that arch to be the hemal one of the occipital 
vertebra, and the pectoral fins to be the radiated appendages of such hzemal arch. 
ETHNOLOGY. 
On the Geographical Distribution of the Languages of Abessinia and the 
Neighbouring Countries. By Dr. Bexe*. 
Dr. Bexe exhibited a map showing the geographical limits of the various lan- 
guages spoken in Abessinia and the adjoining countries, in conformity with the clas- 
sification suggested in the Report on the Languages of Africa, made last year to the 
British Association by Dr. R.G. Latham. The map comprised Classes 14 to 23 in- 
clusive of that Report. 
In his remarks in explanation of this map, the author agreed with Dr. R. G. La- 
tham on all material points, except only as regards the aboriginal languages of Abes- 
sinia, which Dr, Beke considers to consist of those not of the Ethiopic but of the Agau 
class. 
The author next proceeded to analyse a list of languages mentioned in the ‘ Athe- 
neum’ of the 12th of April 1845 (No. 911), of which M. d’Abbadie reports that he 
has collected vocabularies; and he showed that, apparently, they may all be ranged 
in one or other of Dr. R. G. Latham’s classes, which may consequently be regarded 
as exhaustive of the languages spoken in Abessinia and the countries immediately 
adjacent. 
Dr. Beke also explained the probable origin of the fabulous stories which have 
been related respecting the Dokos, an alleged nation of pygmies dwelling in the 
south of Kaffa, but who appear to be a race of savage black people, of little less than 
the ordinary stature of mankind. 
On the Ante-Columbian Discovery of America. 
/ By Professor Evton, D.D. 
The Sagas of Erik the Red, and Thorfin Karlsefne, published by the Royal Society 
of Northern Antiquaries in 1837, contain the history of the first discovery of Ame- 
rica, a.p, 986-1013. ‘The manuscripts published in the ‘ Antiquitates Americane,’ 
give an account also of voyages made by the Scandinavians during the twelfth, . 
thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. They explored a great extent of the eastern 
coast of North America, fought and traded with the natives, and attempted to esta- 
blish colonies. The most northern region they called Hellialand, i. e. Slateland ; the 
country further south, Markland, i. e. Woodland; and the tract still further to the 
south, Vinland, i. e. Vineland. The general features of the country accord with the 
description given. 
This discovery is confirmed by an inscription rock on the Taunton River, at 
Dighton, Massachussets, found there on the arrival of the first New England colonists, 
which contains the word Thorfinus, and 132. One of the Sagas states that Thorfinus, 
an Icelandic chief, with 132 men, made a voyage to Vinland in 1000, remained there 
three years, and was finally killed in a battle. 
In support of the claims of the Welsh to the discovery of America, we have the fol- 
lowing information. It is mentioned by three of their bards, Meredyth ap Rhys, 
Gutwyn Owen, and Cynfrig ap Gronw, all of whom wrote before the discovery by 
Columbus, that Madoc sailed from Wales in 1170, and after pursuing a westward 
* Printed in ewtenso in the Edinburgh New Philosophical Magazine, yol. xlvii. No, 93, for 
July 1849, 
