s4 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [April, 



physical, linguistic and social characters : — characters, however, which, 

 as yet, are meaningless and unconnected. 



" Human history and tradition, and all the facts bearing on the 

 history of the domestication of the lower animals, point to the above 

 geographical area as the first residence of primaeval man ; the enlarged 

 study, therefore, of recent man in the area becomes one of surpassing 

 importance. 



" The Council are of opinion that one great reason why the Science 

 of Ethnology has not progressed in a ratio corresponding with that 

 which in past years has characterized the advance of other and 

 cognate sciences, is due to the fact that the Natural History 

 method has never as yet been applied to the elucidation of the various 

 phenomena which ethnology offers for our observation and research. 

 They believe that Dr. Fayrer's proposition is based upon an appre- 

 ciation of this great want, and they feel convinced, if the method 

 which he has propounded for meeting it, is carried out in an enlightened 

 spirit and countenanced by the support of a liberal Government, that 

 Ethnology will enter upon a brilliant career of discovery. 



" It is proposed to bring together typical examples of each race, 

 and to make them the subject of careful and scientific description. 

 Every physical character will be carefully noted and registered by 

 means of photographs and by plaster of Paris casts, and the type of 

 each spoken language will be determined, and the prominent social 

 customs of each tribe will be described ; and by applying the com- 

 parative system or true natural history method, an attempt will be 

 made to determine their affinities. 



" The Council have the honor to suggest that the proposed Ethnolo- 

 gical Congress would form a fitting adjunct to the General Industrial 

 Exhibition for 1869-70, which the Governor- General in Council has 

 recommended for the sanction of Her Majesty's Government. On 

 such an occasion, Calcutta, owing to its geographical proposition, will 

 be thronged with the specimens of many Indian and Asiatic tribes 

 and races ; and the Council are of opinion, that if the opportunity be 

 fully taken advantage of, little difficulty will be experienced in 

 illustrating the Ethnology of the whole of the area to which I have 

 alluded, and In bringing together nearly all the persistent modifications 

 of the human race. 



