172 REPORT — 1875. 



Furilier Note on PreMstoric Names of Weapons. By Hyde Clarke. 



This was in continuation of a note laid before the British Association in 1873, 

 showing, in connexion with the distribution of weapons, tliat there was a com- 

 munity of aboriginal names in the prehistoric epoch as there is now. The author 

 stated that these results were confirmed since then, and since the publication of 

 his ' Researches in Prehistoric Comparative Philology,' by the examination and 

 classification of a larger body of facts. The names for arrow, dart, spear, sword, 

 knife, and axe were found to present common forms in Asia, Africa, Australia, 

 North America, Central America, and South America. The philological facts 

 show a series of influences, so far as Australia is concerned, operating from the 

 Old World. In conformity with Col. Lane Fox's conclusions, the names for the 

 hoe and other tools are found to be allied with those of weapons, showing that the 

 same instrument was used for tool and weapon. 



On the Himalayan Origin of the Magyar and Fin Languages. 

 By Hyde Clarke. 



The author pointed out the relations of numerous languages in High Asia to the 

 Ugrian, and remarked that the affinities of Magyar and Fin were strongest for the 

 languages of East Nepaul. Among the Himalayan Ugriau were to be found 

 Magyar and Hung ; and the author suggested these as being connected with the 

 invasion of liungary. To harmonize the facts as to the connexion with this event 

 of the Lesghians, Avars, and Khunzag of Caucasia, Mr. Hyde Clarke treated the 

 chiefs as Lesghians (Vasco Kelarian) and the people as mostly Ugrian. 



On the Ethnography of Scotland. By the Rev. J. Earle. 



l._ Aspect. — That the Norwegians are like the Scotch in appearance and in several 

 particulars of life is an ordinary and oft-repeated observation ; but what gives this 

 popular rem.ark its value is this, that it is confirmed by the authority of the 

 scientific observer. Early this year the author asked Dr. Beddoe whether he 

 thought that the comparison of the Scotch to the Norwegians had any thing sub- 

 stantial in it ; and the speedy result of that question was that he showed him a 

 collection of large photographs which he had lately received from Dahknann, the 

 eminent Norwegian artist, as specimens of the various types in Norway; and 

 almost all of them were, in his opinion, to be met with in Scotland. 



2. History. — The Landnama states that the north of Scotland Avas conquered by 

 Norsemen. Tlie biographical and romantic Sagas present it as a habit of the 

 Norsemen, when tired of home, to " harry west. The condition of Lincolnshire 

 as compared with Denmark confirms the truth of this ; and we may safely conclude 

 that Scotland received those who left the south of Norway. From the more 

 iioi-therly fiords the outgoers occupied the Hebrides, which they called the Southern 

 Isles (in their speech "Sundreyjar," a word which still lives on in the title of " Sodor 

 and Man "). The Saxon Chronicle under 924 gives the composition of the popula- 

 tion of Northumbria, which included the Lothians, in these terms — " ge Englisce, 

 ge Denisce, ge Northmen." We know that many points of the west coast down 

 to the Lake-district were occupied by Scandinavians. A passage quoted from 

 Burton (History of Scotland) expressed that Norse superstitions lingered in Scot- 

 land down to a very recent date. 



3. Language. — In the Scots language the most conspicuous and striking features 

 are Norse ; and this fact may now be considered placed beyond question by the admi- 

 rable dictionary of Mgfusson, which every one with a moderate philological train- 

 ing can consult for himself. A list of words was given which strike our English sense 

 as curious ; and yet we, in thus j udging of the Scots dialect, are using as a standard 

 a language (English) which is itself deeply impregnated with Danish. Again, it is 

 not just those words which seem most conspicuous that constitute the strongest 

 evidence of the Norwegian element in Scotland. Such words as hairn, gar, greet 

 (=weep), ken, lax, spcer, speak for themselves; but such an auxiliary as maun 



