THE ETHNOLOGY OF EASTERN ASIA. 



15 



tan and Indo-Burmeae — 5th f the Korean, Japanese* Aino, and Tar* 

 tarian group — 6th, the N. E. Asian, This order supplies examples 

 of a gradation of development. But as all these groups run into 

 each other and intermixtures have taken place, we shall adopt a 

 somewhat different descriptive arrangement and one more in accord- 

 ance with the general ethnic relations of each group ?JP tribes. 

 We shall begin with the Burmah-Chincse family, because some of 

 the Iea£ ; n£ characteristics of a large portion of all the tribes are 

 found in it. in the purest and most primitive form. It will afford 

 the best illustrations of many of the principle* contained in our 

 preliminary essay,* and the clear conception which we derive from 

 it of an ideologic method widely different from that with which 

 our minds are most familiar, will render our comprehension of the 

 peculiarities of the other families comparatively easy. If we dwell 

 rasher longer on the Chinese in particular than may seem con- 

 sistent with the limits within which we are confined, it is 

 because it enables us to anticipate some of the most important 

 characteristics not only of the Malay u- Polynesian but of nil the 

 other harmonic groups, ami! discloses principled by the light of 

 which the more obscure and complex ideologic history of the 

 abstract and inflectional languages can be best investigated. 

 Having endeavoured to refer the characteristics in question to 

 their true natural principles when considering the Chinese, they 

 will give little trouble and occupy little space in the remainder of 

 our labour. Ethnic philology being yet in its infancy, and the 

 facts ascertained for this region being few in proportion to those 

 that remain unknown, any use which an essay like the present can 

 have must be merely temporary. We have therefore written out 

 our notes rapidly, bearing in mind that there is much work before 

 us, and that our object now is not to take a complete view of any 

 particular race or language, but only to seize on such characteristics 

 as, in the present state of our knowledge, are available for compa- 

 rative purposes. Any traits of this kind which we may inadver- 

 tently omit, will be noticed in our final recapitulation. 



" * Preliminary remarks on the generation, grpwtfi, structure and analyrfa o 

 lanjuagee/V Ante To), iiL p. 637 



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