130 REPORT—1868. 
there are exceptions to all rules, and T believe the Association would not excuse me 
if I were to omit on their behalf a passing tribute of regard and respect to the 
memory of one whose benevolent and familiar face will be mournfully missed by 
many here to-day, and whose long and industrious life was passed, even up to its 
latest days, in the pursuit of every object which could tend to the acquisition of 
knowledge or the advancement of science—to the memory of John Crawfurd. 
And now it remains only for me to thank you for the patience with which you 
have followed me through these rambling remarks, which haye extended far beyond 
the limits I had intended. 
You will remember that on the occasion of the delivery of the President’s Ad- 
dress last evening allusion was made by one of the speakers to the “ cohesion of 
atoms,” or the affinity between certain particles. Ido not fancy that Professor 
Huxley applied the remark in a scientific or philosophical sense, but rather as a 
metaphor implying the attraction or drawing together which existed between two 
seafaring atoms, such as the President and himself; and it was precisely this feeling 
which, when Dr. Hooker did me the honour to ask me to preside over this Section, 
prevented me from saying what I really felt prompted to say—you had better find 
a more competent authority; and this is my apology for having accepted the posi- 
tion. I certainly have felt a pride and satisfaction in being associated with men 
whose carly predilections in the search of knowledge and of truth led them to 
adopt my profession as affording the widest scope to careers which have since 
led to eminence, though the very attainment of that eminence has necessarily 
removed both to a sphere of wider and more extended usefulness. 
On the Victoria and Albert Rivers, North Australia. By T, Batnzs, 
On the Native Races of Abyssinia. By Dr. H. Buanc. 
Isolated by the arid regions which surround it, the elevated region of Abys- 
sinia forms a gem apart in torrid Africa, the perfection of a temperate and healthy 
climate. The people of Abyssinia ave a mixed race, the offspring of divers in- 
yaders ; and it is doubtful if such a thing as a pure specimen of the primordial Abys- 
sinian race at present exists. The Shankalas, a negro tribe who dwell in the 
woods of the low country on the north-western frontier, are certainly not that 
race. They are a dark-skinned, woolly-haired, flat-nosed people, ignorant and 
fetish-worshipping, clad in the skins of animals and armed with the club. It was 
not probable that they were originally inhabitants of the highlands, driven to the 
malarious jungles which constitute their present abode by a superior race of in- 
vaders, The oldest records represent the Abyssinian race as powerful, enterprising, 
and possessing a civilization superior to that of other African peoples; and it is 
probable they have since degenerated from their ancient condition. The Abys- 
sinians of the present day are a mixed race, in which the Arab, Jewish, and Galla 
elements are more or less combined. The first of the divisions of the race admitted 
by themselves is the Amhara, a word which serves to designate the majority of 
the population. The Amharas are all Christians. They are a handsome and pre- 
possessing people, well proportioned and with large heads, in which there is but a 
slight preponderance of basilar development. The face is small in proportion to 
the cranium,—the eyes large and black, but somewhat devoid of expression,—the 
nose straight, or slightly curved,—the lips small, often rosy,—the heard generally 
scanty,—the teeth white and even,—the hair coarse, curly, sometimes woolly and 
sometimes long. The hue of the skin varies from dark brown to a dirty yellow. 
The language is an impure Geez, with a mixture of Arabic and Galla words. The 
people of Tigré inhabit the greater portion of the northern provinces. They differ 
but slightly from the Amharas; the head and face are somewhat longer,—the 
teeth more irregular, long, and prominent,—the eyes smaller and brighter,—and 
the face more angular; the hair, especially of the women, is longer and finer. 
They are generally darker than the Amharas, and the Tigré dialect has still more 
connexion with Geez. The people of Lasta seem to combine the best points of 
the Amharas and Tigré nation; although they are below the middle height they 
