180 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 
civilization of Syria and the now extinct native civilization of Mex- 
ico, Japan affords the most satisfactory starting point for the investi- 
gation of problems of world-wide interest that find their centre in the 
Khitan name. [nits name Yamato it shows a closer connection 
with Hamath than with the land of the Nahri in Mesopotamia. As 
the home, therefore, of the scribes, whom the Peruvians called Amau- 
tas and the Aztecs Amoxoaquis, literature naturally flourished in 
its islands ; and the believer in Holy Writ will see in Japanese eul- 
ture and prosperity the result of the blessing of Him whois gover- 
nor among the nations upon the Kenite ‘“ scribes that came of Ham- 
ath, the father of Beth-Rehob,” Hittites indeed, but nobler than their 
fellows.* 
Mr. Buchan was of opinion that it was impossible to pro- 
nounce an opinion upon the paper without examining the 
lists of words carefully, but the conclusion that the American 
Indians reached this continent from north-eastern Asia 
seemed exceedingly reasonable. He must, however, differ 
from Prof. Campbell in regard to the relationship of the 
Hinos and Japanese. Recent accounts had confirmed him 
in the view that they were radically different in language as 
well as in physique. He might mention that it had been 
clearly established that the Hinos were, as according to a pet 
theory ot his they ought to be, a white race, seeing that they 
inhabited a moist and cloudy region. The contradicting 
accounts of previous travellers as to their colour were due 
to the Hino abhorrence of water, at least when applied 
externally. 
Mr. Notman, Mr. Shaw, Mr. Dunlop and Mr. Murray also 
took part in the discussion. 
* Mr. VanderSmissen has kindly called my attention to the fact that 
Professor Schleicher, whom in my former paper on the Khitan Languages I 
inadvertently represented as constituting grammatical construction the soul 
of language, really gives great prominence to the phonetic element, especially 
to that portion of it which expresses relation. I am glad to acknowledge this 
correction of an extreme statement by so competent a disciple of the great 
German philologist. 
