218 REPORT—1874., 
these apparently trivial matters, owing to their having been less influenced 
by progressive changes, are often of the utmost value in tracing the con- 
nexions between the culture of different races and localities. 
The necessity which exists for laying the groundwork of our science on 
a sounder basis must have struck most of those who have attended the 
meetings of this department during past years. Why is it that cur leading 
biologists devote their attention so exclusively to the lower forms of life ? 
It cannot be because men of science think the noblest study for mankind is 
beast kind, but because beast kind is more scientifically treated than man- 
kind, especially as regards the branch of descriptive anthropology, upon 
which all sound deductions must be based. . 
Travellers have usually recorded only those customs of modern savages 
which they have chanced to observe; and, as a rule, they have observed chiefly 
those which their experience of civilized institutions has led them to look 
for. Nor are there wanting instances in which the information thus obtained 
has been lamentably distorted in order to render it in harmony with precon- 
ceived ideas. 
In attempting to trace the distribution of cognate arts and customs, the 
anthropologist is perpetually thwarted by the difficulty of distinguishing 
between positive and negative evidence, 7. e. between non-existence and non- 
recorded existence; so that, to use the words of Mr, E. B. Tylor, it is “ play- 
ing against the bank for a student to set up a claim to isolation for any art 
or custom, not knowing what evidence there may be against him buried in 
the ground or hidden in remote tribes.” 
The rapid extermination of savages at the present time, and the rapidity with 
which they are being reduced to the standard of European manners, renders 
it of urgent importance to correct these sources of error as soon as possible. 
It is hoped that the questions contained in this work may be a means of 
enabling the traveller to collect information without prejudice from his indi- 
vidual views. 
To this end it is particularly to be hoped that they will endeavour to 
answer the questions as fully as possible, not confining themselves to a 
detailed account of those things which exist, but also, by special inquiries 
. directed to the subject, endeavouring to determine the non-existence of 
others to which attention is drawn*, 
On Cyclone and Rainfall Periodicities in connexion with the Sun-spot 
Periodicity. By Cuartes Mrtprumt, 
Tux catalogue of cyclones experienced in the Indian Ocean from 1847 to 
1873, submitted Jast year, indicates that during that period the number of 
cyclones in the space between the equator and 34° S. lat., and the meridians 
of 40° E. and 110° E., was much greater in the years of maximum than in 
the years of minimum sun-spot frequency. 
It will now, and in subsequent Reports, be shown that not only the num- 
* The Notes and Queries have been published by Stanford, of Claring Cross, and a 
notice has been inserted in the flyleaf requesting that any communications from travellers 
relating to the queries contained in the volume may be sent to the Secretary of the An- 
. thropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, 4 St. Martin’s Place, Trafalgar 
Square, London. The names of Mr. John Eyans and Mr. F’. W. Rudler have been added 
to the Committee. 
t A grant of £100 was made at Bradford to Prof. Balfour Stewart, Mr. J. Glaisher 
and Mr. J. N. Lockyer, to assist Mr. Meldrum in conducting meteorological researches 
in Mauritius, 
