00 Fmcccrfihys of the Asiatic Society. [April, 



might very easily be brought down in a Steamer. A few Anda- 

 manese would give us one of the most primitive and interesting 

 of all races. The port of Calcutta would supply Chinese and 

 Malays, Africans, and men of the Persian Gulf and Arabia. 

 Some interesting specimens might be obtained from Nepal and 

 Burmah, each within a very few days' journey. Altogether, I 

 maintain that at a very small expense, and with very easy arrangement, 

 a very large and important Ethnological collection might be brought 

 together at any Exhibition in Calcutta. The plan then which I 

 would suggest, would be somewhat as follows. That an Ethnological 

 branch should be added to the next Agricultural Exhibition, in which, 

 without in any way degrading men and brethren to the position of 

 animals, opportunity should be given for studying man at least to the 

 same extent to which animals are studied ; a study which, in the case 

 of humans, should extend to language and to mental qualities, as well 

 as to physical qualities. I would engage a suitable number of indivi- 

 duals of pronounced type, as Exhibitors on a suitable remuneration. 



1 would erect a sufficient number of booths or stalls divided into com- 

 partments, like the boxes in a theatre or the shops in a bazar ; I would 

 arrange, that on certain hours, on certain days, the Exhibitors, classified 

 according to races and tribes, should sit each in his own stall, should 

 receive and converse with the Public, and submit to be photographed, 

 painted, taken off in casts, and otherwise reasonably dealt with, in the 

 interests of science. I would have each stall properly labelled with 

 particulars of race, habitat, age, &c. of the occupants, and would pro- 

 vide competent interpreters to enable them to communicate with the 

 Public. Iu this way I think that a commencement might be made 

 of such a scientific study of man, as has never yet been attempted ; 

 and I believe that those who first in practice break the ice and com- 

 mence work in this direction, may be the Pioneers of great movements 

 and earn for themselves a name in history. 



" I hope, I need scarcely argue, that a movement of this kind is no 

 mere dileltanteism. Of all sciences, the neglected study of man is now 

 recognised as the most important. The breeding of horses is a 

 science ; the breeding of cattle is a science ; I believe that the breeding 

 of short -horns is one of the most exciting of English occupations, but 

 the breed of man has hitherto been allowed to multiply at hap-hazard. 



