i ai 
TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION H. 969 
become as well known as the interior of South America, and to the distinguished 
traveller who has lately returned among us anthropologists as well as geographers 
owe their warmest thanks. It is not a little remarkable to find so large a tract of 
_ country still inhabited by the same diminutive race of human beings that occupied 
it at the dawn of European history, and whose existence was dimly recognised by 
Homer and Herodotus. The story related by the latter about the young men of 
the Nasamones who made an expedition into the interior of Libya and were there 
taken captive by a race of dwarfs receives curious corroboration from modern 
travellers. Herodotus may, indeed, slightly err when he reports that the colour of 
these pigmies was black, and when he regards the river on which their principal 
town was situated as the Nile. Stanley, however, who states that there are two 
varieties of these pigmies, utterly dissimilar in complexion, conformation of the 
head, and facial characteristics, was not the first to rediscover this ancient race. 
At the end of the sixteenth century, Andrew Battel, our countryman, who, 
having been taken captive by the Portuguese, spent many years in the Congo 
district, gave an account of the Matimbas, a pigmy nation of the height of 
boys of twelve years old; and in later times Dr. Wolff and others have recorded 
the existence of the same or similar races in Central Africa. Nor must we for- 
get that for a detailed account of an Acca skeleton we are indebted to the out- 
going President of this Association, Professor Flower. It is not, however, my 
business here to enter into any detailed account of African exploration or anthro- 
ology. I have made this incidental mention of these subjects rather from a 
_ feeling that in Africa, as well as in Asia and America, native races are in danger 
of losing their primitive characteristics, if not of partial or total extermination, and 
that there also the anthropologist and naturalist must take the earliest possible 
_ opportunities for their researches. Already the day is past when the similitude 
drawn by Anaxilas between music and Africa holds good, and even Cornelius 
Agrippa could no longer maintain that he ‘sayeth not amisse: By God, sayeth 
he, Musicke is even like Affricke ; it yearely bringeth foorth some straunge Beaste.’ ! 
I have, however, said enough on what I feel are somewhat vague and general 
_ topics, and will now ask you to devote your attention to the business of the 
_ Section, when, no doubt, many subjects of interest will be more particularly 
_ discussed. Mi 
} 
The following Papers were read :— 
1. On the Doctrine of Hereditism. By Rev. F. O. Morris, 
2. Remarks on the Ethnology of British Columbia. By Horarto Hate. 
[This Paper forms the introduction to the Report of the North-Western Tribes 
of Canada Committee. See Reports, p. 553.] 
h 8. Notes on the Religion of the Australian Aborigines. By J. W. Fawcerr. 
_! The object of this short paper is to dispel an erroneous impression which exists 
in the minds of many Englishmen and others, that the Australian aborigines have 
_ no religion; whereas they do possess one, and that, perhaps, the most simple of all 
_ religions. 
, They believe in a Creator, to whom different tribes give different names; but 
all such attributes signify Him to be one that is good and great. His teachings 
&re preserved with great care, white persons not being allowed to hear them 
mentioned. In some tribes women and children are never taught anything con- 
cerning this Spirit. 
. They believe in a future life, and that, as they live on earth, so will they live 
hereafter, less the terrestrial discomforts; those living wicked lives await a total 
‘annihilation, ' 
» Vanitie of Sciences, cap. 17, 
1890.  83R 
