200 _ REPORT— 1887. 



members of the Blackfoot nation, of choosing their own husbands would 

 be entirely in accordance with Indian sentiments and habits. That these 

 women should despise and reject Napi, the peculiar and rather ridiculous 

 divinity of the Algonkins, and should introduce the worship of their own 

 glorious sun-god, is intelligible enough. Thus we can see how a tradition 

 as improbable on its face as the coming of horses out of the salt water 

 may represent an actual event which has deeply affected the language, 

 religion, and character of the Blackfoot nation. A similar occurrence, 

 described in Muller's 'Grandriss der Sprachwissenschaft,' had a still more 

 remarkable consequence. The Caribs (Galibis) of the South American 

 mainland, having conquered the Arowaks, who inhabited the neighbour- 

 ing islands, put the men to death and took the women for wives. The 

 women, with true Indian independence, retained their own language 

 among themselves, and taught it, as well as the language of their hus- 

 bands, to their children. The result was that two languages were subse- 

 quently spoken in the tribe — the Galibi among the men, and the Arowak 

 (mixed, however, with some Carib elements) among the women. If the 

 conquest had taken place a few generations earlier the two languages 

 would doubtless have been by this time fused into one — a Cai'ib speech, 

 with many Arowak elements — and the origin of the mixed race would 

 have become a story of the Carib mythology. 



I may venture to add that Mr. Wilson's carefulness in preserving these 

 ' native stoiies — however trivial they might at first seem — precisely as they 

 were received by him deserves particular acknowledgment. 



The Committee ask for reappointment, with a I'enewal of the grant. 



Second Report of the Committee, consisting of Dr. Garson, Mr. 

 Pengelly, Mr. F. W. Rudler, and Mr. G. W. Bloxam (Secretary), 

 appointed for the purpose of investigating the Prehistoric Race 

 in the Greek Islands. 



The Committee have to report that they have again had the benefit of Mr. 

 and Mrs. Bent's valuable assistance in carrying on investigations during 

 the past year. The results of explorations must always be uncertain 

 from the fact that when an exploration is begun, however promising it 

 may seem to be, it is impossible to tell whether expectations will be 

 realised regarding it. This yeai", however, the explorations which 

 Mr. Bent undertook for the Committee have proved to be successful, as 

 they have resulted in the discovery of an ancient temple, which proved 

 to be of Apollo, containing no less than thirteen ancient inscriptions 

 which have been successfully photographed by Mrs. Bent. The structure 

 and plan of the temple have been thoroughly explored, and a marble 

 statue, unfortunately wanting the head, but nevertheless of considerable 

 value, has been found. Several of the tombs adjoining the temple have 

 been explored, and massive and elaborate sarcophagi of considerable 

 interest found in them, which illustrate the customs and art of the 

 inhabitants of these islands in ancient times. 



The field selected for exploration has been an extremely interesting 

 one, and the work which has been done has thrown much light on the 

 ancient marble commerce of Thasos. 



