78 REPORT—1845. 
On the present state of Philological Evidence as to the Unity of the Human Race. 
By R. G. Laruam, M.D. , 
The languages of America are radically one, compared both with one another, and 
with those of the north-east of Asia, viz. the Kamskadale, Koriack, Curile, Corean, 
Japanese. The particular language of the Othomi inhabitants of Mexico, which 
‘has been considered as monosyllabic and isolated in character, forms no exception 
to the previous statement. 
A monosyllabic basis of separate words is provisionally assumed as the fundamental 
element out of which inflections are evolved by agglutination and amalgamation. 
This makes it possible that poly-synthetic tongues, like the American, may be repre- 
sented in their earlier stage by monosyllabic tongues like the Chinese. Glossarial 
investigations confirm both these views. There is a radical unity for the different 
Siberian groups of the Asia Polyglotta, e.g. Yukageer, Yenesean, Samoeide, &c., and 
a fortiori, for the Turk, Mongol, and Manchoo groups. Each and all of these have 
affinities with the monosyllabic tongues, and through these with the Malay and 
Caucasian, 
Polynesia presents the first appearance of isolation, in the languages of New 
Guinea, Australia, &c., i. e. the Negrito tongues. The philological evidence of their 
being akin, either to the Malay or Tamul languages, is at present indefinite and in- 
conclusive. 
Southern India, and the Indian hill-ranges, present the first appearance of isola- 
tion in the languages of Continental Asia. Although unplaced they can scarcely be 
called isolate. 
The African languages have a fundamental unity; philological processes and ex- 
tended comparisons being sufficient to account for the apparent peculiarities of the 
Caffrarian tongues. 
Europe presents unplaced languages in the Basque and Albanian—unplaced, but 
not therefore isolate. The higher groups that should contain divisions like the Se- 
mitic and Indo-European, &c., have yet to be evolved. These, along with positions 
for the Basque, Albanian, and Tamul languages, and affinities for the Negrito and 
African languages in general, are the present desiderata. The philological unity 
of those portions of the human race of which the languages are known, although 
highly probable, has yet to be exhibited in a definite and conclusive form. 
On the Migratory Tribes of Central India. By E. Batrour. 
It has not been ascertained how many wandering tribes there are: the author 
confined himself to the description of the manners and habits of seven. Although 
in many respects they are similar to each other, still there are differences which have 
interest in an ethnological point of view. 
Dr. King exhibited, on the part of Mr. John Brown, a drawing of a specimen of 
gold casting as illustrative of the state of art of the inhabitants of New Grenada prior 
to the conquest. It represented the human figure sitting. The original was of fine 
gold, and weighed 1 oz. 18 dwt. 18 grs. 
a 
On the Moral and Intellectual Character of the New Zealanders. 
By Dr. Martin. 
_ The New Zealander may be classed in that stage of man’s progression when the 
indications of sense are not altogether corrected by reflection and intellect; when 
passion is somewhat tempered, but nct controlled by moral and religious feeling ; 
when hatred is stronger than benevolence, and self-love is unrestrained by consci- 
entiousness ; when, in fact, the mere intellectual perception of self-interest is the 
chief regulator of the conduct. As far as mere perceptive faculties are concerned, 
the New Zealander may be said to be inferior to Europeans, but superior to many 
other uncivilized people. The New Zealander is a paradox in every light in which 
we regard his moral character. Religion, veneration, or superstition, are the strongest 
feelings, and yet they are, in most cases, unaccompanied by conscientiousness, which 
