) 



434 



ETHNOLO«"-Y, 



[Sect. xm. 



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In everv newly discovered country It will be an in- 



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terestirij; subject of inquiry, what domesticated animals 

 are in the possession of the natives — who., they obtained 

 such as they are found to possess — whether they are 

 known as wild animals of the same region, or were brought 



from some foreign land. 



Inquiry should be made as to the art of navigation 



practised by different" races. 



Some nations appear to 



have a greater aptitude for maritime pursuits than others. 

 The Polynesians in some places are almost amphibious, 

 while the American natives and the Australians rarely 



Several South American nations 



venture upon the sea 



are, however, expert navigators hi their inland lakes and 



vast rivers. 



The crude notions entertained by uncivilized nations 



on subjects within the scope of physical science are mat- 

 ters worthy of inquiry. Science they can be hardly said 

 to possess, though this was scarcely true with the ancient 

 Mexicans. All nations observe the changes of the moon, 

 and mep=ure the lapse of time v^ith a greater or less 

 degree of accuracy by the movements of some of the 

 heavenly bodies. Inquiry should be made whether the 

 motions of the planets are observed, and whether their 

 bodies are distinguished from fixed stars, whether attempts 

 are made to ascertain the duration of the solar year, and 

 whether there are names for the constellations, and what 

 thev are if thcv exist* 



L 



Thev weave sweet flow'rets of the desert earth, 

 Of finest texture and of richest worth- 

 Robes bright of hue as flowers which deck the mead, 



Of finer texture than the spider's thread/ 



Dionys, Perieg. 755. 



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