THE CANADIAN JOURNAL. 



NEW SERIES. 



No. X.— JULY, 1857. 



NARCOTIC USAGES AND SUPERSTITIONS OF THE 

 OLD AND NEW WORLD. 



BY DANIKL WILSON, LL.D., 

 PROFESSOE OF nlSTOKT AND ENGLISH LIIEBATUBE, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, TORONTO. 



Head before the Canadian Institute, 31st January, 1S57. 



In attempting to determine the elements on which to base a sys- 

 tem of classification of the diverse types or varieties of man, there 

 are frequently one or two prominent characteristics which, alike 

 among ancient and modern races, appear to supply at least con- 

 venient tests of classification, while some are deserving of special con- 

 sideration as indicators of more comprehensive and far-reaching 

 principles. The ancient epithet " barbarian," had its origin in the 

 recognition of this idea ; and we still apply that of " woad-died" to 

 the old Briton as the fittest which our knowledge of him supplies. 

 With the Jew and his Semitic congeners, the rite of circumcision is a 

 peculiarly distinctive element of isolation, though carried by 

 Islamism, with the Arabic tongue, far beyond their ethnic pale. 

 Brahminism, Buddhism, Barseeism, Sabaism, Eetisism, and even 

 Thuggism, each suffice to supply some elements of classification. The 

 cannibal New Zealander, the large footed Patagonian, the big lipped 

 Babeen, the flat-headed Chinook, the woolly-haired Negro, the cluck- 

 ing Hottentot, and the boomerang-armed Australian, has each his 

 special feature, or peculiar symbol, more or less fitly assigned to him ; 

 and not less, but more distinctly characteristic than any of these 



VOL. II. — Q 



