252 SIR J. W. DAWSON, C.M.G., F.R.S., ETC., ON SPECIMENS 



and unglazed, also pliotograplis of other objects. One of 

 these is an oval vase, suited to stand on its end, quite 

 unornamentcd. Its form is similar to that of the jar found 

 by Dupont in the cave of Frontal, in Belgium, and perhaps 

 one of the oldest known. Several others represent the so- 

 called seals, which are flat discs or squares of clay, marked 

 with radiating or concentric rows; of dots, and concentric 

 and spiral bands. One of them has what appears to be the 

 remains of a handle at the back. These objects may have 

 been ornaments or distinctive badges, or may have been used 

 for stamping with colour, or on soft bodies ; but they do not 

 seem well adapted for this. None of them show any 

 ■appearance of characters or imitative forms. 



Mortars. — One of the photographs represents two mortars, 

 probably for grinding corn. They are made of round stones 

 hollowed out on one side. 



5^/;. General Remarks. 



In so far as the facts above stated give any evidence, it 

 ■would seem that ethnologically and j)i'obably historically 

 the Guanches were most intimately related to the early 

 populations of Northern Africa and Western Europe in the 

 Neanthropic or early post diluvian period. We may imagine 

 them to have been derived from the ancient Berber tribes of 

 Northern Africa or from the Iberian race of South- Western 

 Europe, and to have remained at the stage of culture of 

 these people in what has been called the Neolithic or later 

 stone age. There is nothing novel in this suggestion, as 

 Humboldt and Pritchard long ago compared these people 

 with the Berber races of North Africa, their nearest neigh- 

 bours on the mainland in ancient times. They present also 

 in their physical character and in their arts, resemblances to 

 aboriginal America peoples, particularly to those of the East 

 Coast. Some of the Hochelagan or Algonkin skulls in our 

 collections are closely allied to those of the Guanches, and 

 their bodkins, wampum beads, and pottery are very similar, 

 while the systems of kinship, and of religion controlled by 

 medicine-men, seem to have been allied. I have placed in 

 our collection the skull originally presented by Mr. Haliburton 

 beside those from Hochelaga and from Central America as 

 the most nearly related to it. Sir Daniel Wilson has already 

 referred to these resemblances in connection with the 

 possible migration of man from the Mediterranean region or 



