JANTJAEY 22, 1897.] 



SCIENCE. 



141 



tricity. We found that positively electri- 

 fied air lost its positive electricity, and in 

 some cases acquired negative electricity, 

 under the influence of Eontgen rays ; and 

 we were thus led to investigate the effect 

 of Eontgen rays on air unelectrified to be- 

 ^in with. 



Note on diagram. — For the sake of sim- 

 plicity, the screening of the electrometer is 

 not shown in the diagram. In carrying 

 out the above experiments, however, we 

 have found it absolutely necessary not only 

 to surround the electrometer with wire 

 gauze in the usual manner, but we have 

 had also to place a sheet of lead below it, 

 and to screen also the side next the Eont- 

 gen lamp by a lead screen. In some cases 

 it was even necessary to cover up the whole 

 with paper to prevent the electrified air of 

 the room from disturbing the instrument. 



Kelvin, 



J. C. Bbattie, 



M. Smoluchowski de Smolan. 

 Physical Laboeatoey, 



IJNivEESiT-i' OF Glasgow, 



December 19, 1896. 



CURRENT NOTES ON ANTHROPOLOGY. 

 OEIGIN OF EOCK PAINTINGS. 



A valuable article is published in the 

 IBulletin of the American Museum, Vol. 

 VIII., by James Teit, on a rock painting 

 of the Thompson Eiver Indians, British 

 'Columbia. 



It appears that young girls, on reaching 

 maturity, retire for a season of solitude, 

 meditation and purification. At its close 

 they paint on some rock, with red ochre, 

 their psychical experiences and the rites 

 they have performed. An example is given 

 with its interpretation. 



This origin of pictogi-aphs is not men- 

 tioned, I think, in Col. Garrick Mallery's 

 extensive work. The figures are curious 

 and suggestive. They appear to be conven- 

 tional and can be read by any woman of 



the tribe. This shows that they are taught 

 to the young girls, and we thus find a rec- 

 ognized graphic system prevailing in this 

 rude tribe. 



THE MEANING OP MOUKNING. 



Various ethnologists have claimed that 

 the laments, the mutilations and howls of 

 the survivors around the corpse in primi- 

 tive nations are chiefly for their own bene- 

 fit, to keep away the ghost, as thatis usually 

 considered malevolent. 



The subject is discussed by K. T. Preuss, 

 in the Globus, November, 1896, in an article 

 ' Die Totenklage im alten Amerika.' Some 

 instances, he believes, justly the above as- 

 sertion, but the majority do not. The 

 wailing and weeping, often continued for 

 months, he regards as generally indications 

 of personal sorrow at the loss sustained. 



This natural and satisfactory explanation 

 is supported by the most intelligent officers 

 of our regular army who have seen inti- 

 mately the home life of our western In- 

 dians. For instance, the late Captain W. 

 P. Clark, ' the white chief with the talking 

 hand,' expresses himself positively to this 

 efiect, in his Indian Sign Language, p. 263. 



primitive travel and transportation. 

 An essay with this title, by Prof. O. T. 

 Mason, occupies more than 350 pages of the 

 last Eeport of the United States National 

 Museum. In completeness of presentation 

 and wealth of material it far surpasses any 

 other study of the subject, and leaves little 

 to be desired until we have materially ex- 

 tended our collections of early objects. 

 There are 2(50 figures inserted in the text, 

 illustrating all sorts of native conveyances 

 — cradles, baskets, shoes, sandals, stafis, 

 carrying gear, tree-climbing devices, snow 

 goggles, etc. — and the mode in which they 

 were used. Eoads, bridges, journeys, camp- 

 ing grounds and other matters pertaining 

 to primitive travel claim a part of the 

 author's attention. 



