PROVISIONAL REPORTS AND NOTICES. 335 



tion, j'et independently of this some importance is to be attached to the me- 

 trical compositions if they have a national character and are widely diffused; 

 and, in this case, it might be possible to express some of their airs in musical 

 characters. A specimen of known composition translated into their language, 

 may also be given, such as the first chapter of Genesis, the fifteenth chapter 

 of Luke's Gospel, and the Lord's Prayer. 



16. Endeavour to ascertain whether the language is extensively spoken or 

 understood, and whether there are different languages spoken by men having 

 similar physical characters obviously connecting them as a race, or if differ- 

 ing somewhat in this respect, inhabiting a particular geographical tract. 

 When such groups are said to possess different languages, endeavour, as far 

 as possible, to ascertain their number, the sources whence each is derived, 

 and the languages to which it is allied ; and also the circumstances, geogra- 

 phical or political, which may account for these distinctions. 



[For further information connected with the investigation of languages, 

 reference is made to a short essay on this subject read to the Philological 

 Society of London.] 



Individual and Family Life. — 17. Are there any ceremonies connected with 

 the birth of a child ? Is there any difference whether the child be male or 

 female ? 



18. Does infanticide occur to any considerable extent, and if it does, to 

 what causes is it to be referred, want of affection, deficient subsistence, or 

 superstition ? 



19. Are children exposed, and from what causes, whether superstition, 

 want of subsistence or other difficulties, or from deformity, general infirmity, 

 or other causes of aversion ? 



20. What is the practice as to dressing and cradling children, and are 

 there any circumstances connected with it calculated to modify their form ; 

 for example, to compress the forehead, as amongst the western Americans ; 

 to flatten the occiput, as amongst most Americans, by the flat straight board 

 to which the child is attached ; to occasion the lateral distortion of the 

 head, by allowing it to remain too long in one position on the hand of the 

 nurse, as amongst the inhabitants of the South Seas ? 



21. Are there any methods adopted, by which other parts of the body 

 may be affected, such as the turning in of the toes, as amongst the North 

 Americans ; the modification of the whole foot, as amongst the Chinese? 



22. How are the children educated, what are they taught, and are there 

 any methods adopted to modify their character, such as to implant courage, 

 impatience of control, endurance of pain and privation, or, on the contrary, 

 submission, and to what authorities, cowardice, artifice ? 



23. Is there anything remarkable amongst the sports and amusements of 

 children, or in their infantile songs or tales ? 



24^. At what age does puberty take place ? 



25. What is the ordinary size of families, and are there any large ones ? 



26. Are births of more than one child common ? What is the proportion 

 of the sexes at birth and among adults ? 



27. Are the children easily reared ? 



28. Is there any remarkable deficiency or perfection in any of the senses ? 

 It is stated, that in some races sight is remarkably keen, both for near and 

 distant objects. 



29. To what age do the females continue to bear children ? and for what 

 period are they in the habit of suckling them ? 



30. What is the menstrual period, and what the time of utero-gestation ? 



31. Are there any ceremonies connected with any particular period of life ? 



