CIRCULAR HUMAN HABITATIONS. 9ll 



of the use of circular forms, from the Zulu hut in South 

 Africa to the snow dome of the Esquimaux of the Greenland 

 shore. 



What is the explanations of these facts (* Was the use of 

 the circle once universal, or was it confined within definite 

 geof^raphical limits!* Is it a question of ethnology ? We 

 know from the evidence given in Miss Bird's travels in Japan, 

 that there is a curious connection between the Esquimaux 

 and the Ainos, the aboriginal inhabitants of Japan, also a 

 diminutive, if not a dwarf race. The Picts were a dwarf 

 race, and hairy, hke the Ainos. The dwellers on the Swiss 

 lakes were of small stature, as evidenced by the diminutive 

 dimensions of the bracelets worn by their women. Was 

 there any connection between these races and the dwarf races 

 of Central Africa .'' 



Had the original use of the circular form a religious 

 significance, as would appear to be the case from the pains 

 taken to retain the circular form of the estropas in the 

 pueblos of Arizona ? Or was it the only geometrical form 

 which primitive man was able to describe, and does the use 

 of the right angle mark a stage of progress in scientific 

 knowledge ? 



It is so easy to strike out a circle on the ground with a 

 string and a couple of pegs, and one is almost tempted to 

 think when looking at the curious round churches in the 

 Island of Bornholm, which were evidently set out in this way 

 on a geometrical design, which was extensively used in the 

 early days of Christianity as the groundwork of the pictorial 

 representations of the Trinity, that this simplicity may have 

 had a great deal to do with the matter. But when we come 

 to look at the work of the mound-builders of the Mississipj)i 

 valley, and see that this unknown race, who left no monu- 

 ments whatever in the shape of buildings, must have been 

 skilful geometricians to set out with ])recision the various 

 figures presented by these cui'ious earthworks, it does not 

 seem that the production of a rectangle calls for a great 

 exercise of talent. 



It has not been thought worth while to encumber this paper 

 with an enumeration of the works which may be referred 

 to with advantage in the study of this interesting subject, as 

 their names are legion, but a list is subjoined of the heads of 

 inquiry to be kept in mind by those who have an opportunity 

 of examining ancient buildings, or buildings which appear to 

 have been erected on early types, and the author will gladly 



