280 ETHNOLOGICAL RESULTS 



storms raised in far off centres, and among other races. Many 

 circumstances connected with the still unknown northern tribes 

 may tend to elucidate such inquiries. Thus, if they use the iglu 

 they may be supposed to be kindred of the Greenlanders ; snow- 

 huts will point to some devious wanderings from Boothian or 

 American shores ; while stone yourts would indicate a march from 

 the coast of Siberia, across a wholly unknown region. The method 

 of constructing sledges would be another indication of origin, as 

 would also be the weapons, clothes, and utensils. The study of the 

 language of a long isolated tribe will also tend to elucidate questions 

 of considerable interest ; and its points of coincidence and diver- 

 gence, when compared with Greenland, Labrador, Boothian, and 

 Siberian dialects, will lead to discoveries which, probably, could not 

 otherwise be made. Dr. Hooker has pointed out that the problem 

 connected with the Arctic flora can probably be solved only by a 

 study of the physical conditions of much higher latitudes than have 

 hitherto been explored. In like manner, the unsolved puzzles con- 

 nected with the wanderings of man within the Arctic zone may 

 depend for their explanation upon the clues to be found in the 

 conditions of a tribe or tribes in the far north. 



These are speculations which the results gained by Polar discovery 

 would probably, but not certainly, show to be well founded. But 

 there are other investigations which would undoubtedly yield valu- 

 able materials for the student of man. Such would be carefully 

 prepared notes on the skulls, the features, the stature, the dimen- 

 sions of limbs, the intellectual and moral state of individuals 

 belonging to a hitherto isolated and unknown tribe ; also on their 

 religious ideas, on their superstitions, laws, language, songs, and 

 traditions ; on their weapons and methods of hunting ; and on their 

 skill in delineating the topography of the region within the range 

 of their wanderings. There are also several questions which need 

 investigation, having reference to marks and notches upon arrows 

 and other weapons, and to their signification. A series of questions 

 has been prepared by Dr. Barnard Davis, Mr. Tylor, Col. Lane Fox, 

 and others, on these and other points, 1 attention to which would 



1 1. Instructions of Dr. Barnard Davis. 



2. Enquiries as to Religion, Mythology, and Sociology of Eskimo Tribes, by 

 E. B. Tylor, Esq., F.B.S. 



3. Enquiries relating to Mammalia, Vegetation, &c, by W. Boyd Dawkins, 

 Esq., f.r.s. 



4. Enquiries into Customs relating to War, by Col. A. Lane Fox. 



4a. Enquiries relating to certain Arrow-marks and other Signs in use among 

 the Eskimos. 



46. Enquiries relating to Drawing, Carving, &c, by Col. A. Lane Fox. 



5. Enquiries as to Ethnology, by A. W. Franks, Esq. 



6. Enquiries 



