TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION D. DEFT. ANTHROPOLOGY. 381 



into the Neolithic age. The coincidence of this estimate with the two Swiss ones 

 above mentioned is remarkable. 



These results do not, however, give us the date of the introduction of the Neo- 

 liths into Europe, for neither in the Swiss nor English localities are we sure that 

 the Neolithic relics belong to the early part of the Neolithic age. The author, 

 indeed, has recently obtained evidence of Neolithic handiwork in Fenland peat of 

 far greater age than that described, the peat bed underlying silt more than 7,000 

 years old. He is inclined to think that the Neolithic Age in England began at 

 least 10,000 years ago, and perhaps 20,000 years ; but that it does not approach 

 the close of the Glacial epoch, seems to be shown by the fact that the older Fen- 

 land beds (themselves post-glacial) do not contain human relics. 



4. A Classification of the Physical Conditions of Life. 

 By C. Roberts, F.B.C.S. 



It is only by examining the physical condition of a large number of individuals 

 by anthropometry that the actual state of health of a nation can be determined. The 

 present paper indicates the direction in which investigation may be made by 

 classifying the conditions of life which modify the development of the human 

 body. The most important of the agencies are race, climate, nurture, occupation, 

 and disease. An elaborate table accompanied the paper. 



5. On the Yarra and the Languages of Australia in connection ivith those of 

 the Mozambique and Portuguese Africa. By Hyde Clarke, V.P.A.I. 



In this paper Mr. Clarke showed that the Yarra dialect of Melbourne, and many 

 others of North, East, South, and West Australia are to be identified with the 

 Mozambique languages on the east coast of Africa, the Muntu, Kirimau, Marawi, 

 &c, with those of the other Bantu or Kaffre languages of Portuguese South Africa. 

 This was accompanied by a large table of words. Further, he showed that those 

 Mozambique roots which are not represented in the Yarra, See., are represented in 

 the Echuca and other Australian languages, thus completing the chain of identity. 

 Mr. Clarke pointed out that Dr. Caldwell had recognised the grammatical resem- 

 blances between Australian and the Dravidian of India, and Dr. W. H. Bleek 

 between Australian and Bantu. They had not been able to follow up these resem- 

 blances or to account for them. He stated, in the facts in another paper, that these 

 languages belonged to a common group, but had undergone different processes of 

 development. He supported the view of Mr. Brough Smith that Australia had 

 been under the influence of a white race in ancient epochs. Apart from the evi- 

 dence of language, grammar, and mythology, he dwelt on the curious fact that the 

 names of the languages of Australia are negatives, one of these negatives, Kabi, 

 being common throughout the world. He also referred to the geographical doc- 

 trine of the Four Worlds, as taught in the School of Pergamus, in proof that Aus- 

 tralasia had in earlier epochs been known to the ancients. 



FRIDA Y, A UGUST 22. 



The Chairman delivered the following Address : — 



In surveying modern scientific opinion, the student is often reminded of a doctrine 

 proclaimed in the ancient hymns of the Zend-Avesta, that of Zrvdna akarana, or 

 ' endless time.' Our modern schemes of astronomy, geology, biology are all 



