766 REPORT— 1902. 



this peculiarity may be due to early Nestorian missionaries, who had settlements 

 in Yunnan as early as the time of Marco Polo. 



The paper further describes the religious beliefs, elaborate animistic beliefs, 

 cosmogony, ceremonies and rituals, songs and literature, and social organisation of 

 the Lolos. Their surnames always signify the name of a tree or animal, or both 

 tree and animal ; and these are considered as the ancestors of the family bearing 

 the name. To ask a man his name, the question is, ' What is it you do not touch p ' 

 but no worship is paid to the plant or animal. 



9. On the Wild and Civilised Races of the Malay Peninsula. 

 By Nelson Annandale and H. C. Robinson. 



The Paper describes the districts which were visited by the authors, the 

 investigations undertaken, and the material obtained. 



I. The civilised tribes are as follow : — 



1. Malays and Siamese of the district between Singora and Jambu. — Physical 

 differences between the two are slight or absent ; there is evidence of an admixture 

 of aboriginal blood, though the aborigines are now practically extinct in the 

 district. The general customs and mode of life are described. Two distinct 

 physical types are to be recognised, but neither can be associated with one people 

 or the other. Mahommedan and Buddhist customs are noted. The amusements, 

 opium-smoking, diseases, and modes of burial are described. 



2. The South Perak Malays are distinct from the people of Patani ; their 

 standards of civilisation more Occidental, but their race is non-persistent, being 

 swamped by immigration. 



3. In Selangor there is no long-established Malay population. 



4. The Samsams of Trang are identical with or nearly related to the Malays 

 o Upper Perak, but certain physical differences from the Malays of South Perak 

 are noted, and their language, religion, and weapons are described, 



II. The savage tribes are the following : — 



5. Seynangs. — Their distribution, social status, physical characters, and mode of 

 life are described. 



6. Sakais. — Their distribution and relationship to Semangs are noted, and their 

 mode of life, external relations, and burial customs. 



7. — Orang Laut Kappir of Trang. — Their possible relationships are discussed, 

 with their dialect, religion, and customs. 



TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16. 

 The following Papers and Reports were read : — 



1. The Lia Fail of Tara, and Election of Kings by Augury. 

 By E. Sidney Hartland. 



The famous Lia Fail, or Stone of Destiny, often identified with the Coronation 

 Stone, ' was a stone on which were enchantments, for it used to roar under the 

 person who had the best right to obtain the sovereignty of Ireland at the time of 

 the men of Ireland being in assembly at Tara to choose a king over them.' It 

 was thus an oracle ; and the choice of king was made by the augury which it gave. 

 Other modes of augury were also used in Ireland for this purpose, as well as in 

 many savage and semi-civilised countries. Examples of these are cited from 

 stories, as embodying real traditions of customs once prevalent. Kingship was 

 something more than human. It was necessary, then, to ascertain the will of the 



