18 REPORT— 1897. 



lived under much the same conditions as did our own Neolithic predecessors 

 in Europe. 



The manners and customs of these primitive tribes and peoples are 

 changing day by day, their languages are becoming obsolete, their myths 

 and traditions are dying out, their ancient processes of manufacture are 

 falling into oblivion, and their numbers are rapidly diminishing, so that it 

 seems inevitable that ere long many of these interesting populations will 

 become absolutely extinct. The admirable Bureau of Ethnology instituted 

 by our neighbours in the United States of America has done much 

 towards preserving a knowledge of the various native races in this vast 

 continent ; and here in Canada the annual Archseological Reports pre- 

 sented to the Minister of Education are cndering good service in the 

 same cause. 



Moreover the Committee of this Assoj.ation appointed to investigate 

 the physical characters, languages, and industrial and social conditions of 

 the North- Western tribes of the Dominion of Canada is about to present 

 its twelfth and final report, which in conjunction with those already pre- 

 sented will do much towards preserving a knowledge of the habits and 

 languages of those tribes. It is sad to think that Mr. Horatio Hale, 

 whose comprehensive gi'asp of the bearings of ethnological questions, and 

 whose unremitting labours have so materially conduced to the success of 

 the Committee, should be no longer among us. Although this report is 

 said to be final, it is to be hoped that the Committee may be able to 

 indicate lines upon which future work in the direction of ethnological and 

 archaeological research may be profitably carried on in this part of Her 

 Majesty's dominions. 



It is, however, lamentable to notice how little is being or has been 

 officially done towards preserving a full record of the habits, beliefs, arts, 

 myths, languages, and jihysical characteristics of the countless other tribes 

 and nations more or less uncivilised which are comprised within the 

 limits of the British Empire. At the meeting of this Association held last 

 year at Liverpool it was resolved by the General Committee ' that it is of 

 urgent importance to press upon the Government the necessity of 

 establishing a Bureau of Ethnology for Greater Britain, which by collect- 

 ing information with regard to the native races within and on the borders 

 of the Empire will prove of immense value to science and to the Govern- 

 ment itself.' It has been suggested that such a bureau might with the 

 ^greatest advantage and with the least outlay and permanent expense be 

 connected either with the British Museum or with the Imperial Institute, 

 and the project has already been submitted for the consideration of the 

 Trustees of the former establishment. 



The existence of an almost unrivalled ethnological collection in the 

 Museum, and the presence there of officers already well versed in 

 ethnological research, seem to affiard an argument in favour of the proposed 

 bureau being connected with it. On the other hand, the Imperial Insti- 



