EXCURSIONS OF AN EVOLUTIONIST 



legendary starting-point, we have thus obtained 

 much interesting and trustworthy information 

 by the aid of the comparative method of in- 

 quiry. For be it observed that the results so 

 far set down have been reached, for the most 

 part, by a mere comparative survey of the va- 

 rious regions of the linguistic and ethnical field 

 with which we have been called upon to deal. 

 We have in this way obtained quite an accurate 

 conception of what is meant when we speak of 

 the Aryans. But as yet we have dealt only with 

 the veriest rudiments of the subject. Nor have 

 we as yet gone far toward illustrating the vast 

 and rich resources of the comparative method. 

 To be able to depict the prehistoric culture of 

 the Aryan-speaking people, to interpret their 

 mythical conceptions, and to unfold the other re- 

 markable truths that lie latent in the variety of 

 their speech, this is indeed a fruitful achieve- 

 ment. But to show how this has been brought 

 about requires a separate and more detailed 

 form of exposition. 



July, 1876. 



96 



