REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 'Ixxxv 



that a thorough study of his character, his beliefs and superstitions, is a 

 jiecessity for those who have to deal with him. And what is true of the 

 natives of Africa is also true, in a greater or less degree, of all uncivilised 

 races. Their ideas of common things and common acts are so radically 

 different from those of civilised man that it is impossible for him to 

 understand them without a special training. 



' Even in dealing with the highly civilised natives of India it is most 

 necessary that an inquirer should be familiar with their religion, and 

 with the racial prejudices which the natives of India possess in common 

 Avith other civilised nations. 



' A training in knowledge of native habits is now gone through by our 

 officers, traders, and missionaries on the spot ; and by experience — some- 

 -times dearly bought — they, after many failures, learn how to deal with 

 the natives. By the establishment of such a Bureau as is here advocated 

 •much might be done to train our officers before they go out, as is now 

 done by the Dutch Government, who have a handbook and a regular 

 course of instruction as to the life, laws, religion, &c., of the inhabitants 

 •of the Dutch Indies. The experience thus gained would then mature 

 rapidly, and they would become valuable servants to the State more 

 •quickly. 



' The collecting of the necessary information for the Bureau could be 

 done with but little expense and with a very small staff only, if the 

 ■scheme were recognised and forwarded by the Government. If instruc- 

 tions were issued, for instance, by the Colonial Office, the Foreign Office, 

 the Admiralty, and the Intelligence Branch of the War Office, to the 

 officers acting under each of these departments, not only that they were 

 at liberty to conduct these inquiries, but that credit would be given to 

 them officially for good work in this direction, there is little doubt that 

 many observers qualified by their previous training would at once put 

 themselves and their leisure at the disposal of the Bureau. 



' The Bureau itself, the central office, would be of necessity in London 

 — in no other place could it properly serve its purpose — and preferably, for 

 the sake of economy and official control, it should be under the adminis- 

 tration of some existing Government office. But the various interests 

 involved make it somewhat difficult to recommend where it should 

 he placed. The Colonial Office would obviously present some advantages. 

 "The British Museum has been suggested, with good reason, and there 

 •appears to be no insuperable difficulty if the Trustees are willing to 

 undertake the responsibility of controlling such a department. 



' The staff would not be numerous. A Director accustomed -to deal 

 •with ethnological matter would necessarily direct the conduct of the 

 inquiries, and until the material assumed large proportions, two or three 

 <;lerks would probably suffice. If the value of the results were considered 

 to justify it, the increase of the area of operations over the world would 

 probably call for additional assistance after the Bureau had been at work 

 for a few years. 



' The Bureau of Ethnology in the United States aims chiefly at pub- 

 lishing its reports, but its area is limited to America. The scope of the 

 •present proposal is so much wider that the Committee think it better not 

 to deal with the question of publication at present. 



' If this report be adopted by the Council it will be necessary to 

 approach the Government, and impress upon them the importance of 

 liaving such an organisation for carrying out these recommendations. 



