H.—ANTHROPOLOGY. 155 
But having at their disposal comparatively little theoretical knowledge 
of mechanics, they yet succeeded in achieving marvellous results, largely 
from their practical ability. They must have solved such problems as the 
_ transportation of an obelisk by the multiplicity of simple elements of 
traction employed and by the ingenuity displayed in their arrangement. 
And when it is a question of sea transport, we cannot but admire the 
courage of those who succeeded in bringing such huge masses of stone 
through the Mediterranean from Egypt to Italy without the aid of steam— 
an even greater enterprise than dragging them along the land without 
the appliances that we now have at command. 
- Mr. O. G. 8. Crawford has of late eloquently maintained the view that 
anthropology is concerned with the whole of man’s past as it bears on his 
present and his future. If this be so, and personally I entirely agree with 
him, I think I may claim that the study of practical engineering among the 
Romans shows us that in this, as in other spheres, they added very 
considerably to the sum of human achievement, and thus contributed in 
_ no small measure to make the condition of the human race what it is. 
