THE ETHNOLOGY OF THE INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. U 



of nations.* It investigates the characteristics and history of the 

 various tribes of man. The time seems to be already come when 

 w r may venture to define it more comprehensively as the soirncit 

 of the Human Race. From tlie investigation of the peculiarities 

 and histories of particular tribes it rises to the conception of man- 

 kind as one race, and combining the truths which it gathers 

 from every tribe, presents the whole as the science of the ethnic 

 development of man. Thoac who may consider it premature to 

 unite all nations in the notion of one race, can still accept the defi- 

 nition as indicating the science that results from a comparison of 



• Vague or erroneous notions are frequently entertained respecting the elm of 

 ethnology *n«J no good definition ha* vet been given of It. Dr Pricliara sometime* 

 explains it to be the history of nations, — taking history In Its wiriest scientific 

 wmse, — at other time* he declares h to be en ottemot to trace the hhtorr of tribes 

 arJ run s ot »„ t, tj ui the unwt remote prim]*, ivhkh arv within (he rta- h of inv«»- 

 ration, to dferov.>r their. nnittjxU ndatiuns, and so arrive at . cluaioas vithtfr 

 etrtaln or probable, as to their affinity or diversity of origin. In bfe latest produc- 

 tion he cumpri«* under the terra B til that relates to human beings, whether 

 regarded at individuals or as mem ben of families or communities,/* thus mixing up 

 what the French term Anthropology, or the science of man gennrallv. with that of 

 nations, and evincing his ultimata euuvlcrkm of the necessity of rcstour ethnology 

 on a thorough study of human nature and human development. Die ohfart ...f ih\; 

 Ethnological Society of Paris is " to establish what are In reality the (Uiferent 

 human rane*," wMI.- the A mm n- mi Kthnological Society declare* that " its objects 

 -Ukll w):npri-4- enfj'.irii* iijtn thv origin , progr-'ss and dianuiterihties ol kM wii'i<m.. 

 races of men." 



Ethnology, according to our conception ©fits distinctive aims, roojddefl every 

 thing relating to mankind that afthcti his national tendencies, characteristics and 

 oVreloptnent*. It. U comparative human physiology, psychology, ptiilology Sic. 

 in tbwr national and progreasrra aspect- It pre-supposw s scientific knowledge 

 of man as an individual, and if in any case this has nut been fumW.od to it hv lUc 

 ci.tivator* nt the aliHoluto b*n jU* «sc .ikw, tljtj etluj..|n«bt must c--< i*id« from Win 

 ivmiparative labour to supply the deficiency as far as he can. For the knowledge 

 which he takes fnm the turm..r If rjv. s thru, an equivalent, because man as an 

 individual cannot be known well and trnrv till he fe viewed wto reference to 

 nmokind as a race. It is only then that no <*an be fully understood phssirailv. 

 inttili:ctu.iilv, nvMiIly or n-liriomly. Tlx- whole truth of hit. portion. dui.rli»piuvnt, 

 tendencies and ends cannot be learned without the aid of ethnology, biill the 

 ethnologiat deals with special human sciences incidentally and not directly. fi« is 

 interested in every law of growth and change hi individuals that affect* or illustrates 

 national life,— that produces, or is capable of producing, diversitici of form, dispositi- 

 on &c His primary school is therefore the Famfiy. 



The. constituents of the science appear to us to bo 1st, the principles of etlmolugy 

 as the science ot the developments ard varieties of mankind ; requiring mental and 

 onrnorcal investigation* of many kinds ajid a study of the influence exerted on him 

 by external nature, by particular kinds of configuration and climate and b? physical 

 geography generally,— in other words an enquiry into the causes of all the pheno- 

 mena of variation, change and ptogrr-*s.<<n whirb man rxhihlt* or is capable uf 

 acUbttJng. fed, the history of particular developments. J. c. of each nation 

 separately. 3rd, the ultimate history of mankind as a whole. There is no doubt 

 thu' itiM-Tlicr and mail) etemriifary *.>n<v must crow up a! the threshhold of 

 ethnology before it can be prosecuted without constant digressions. This Es the 

 science of man, of which most of the component parts nave been long studied 

 separately, and for which even now large nut trials exist, only requiring to be united. 

 It is parth- psy ch olo gi ca l , partly physiological and partly phyalcaL II must begin 

 with the human germ, —man on bis first entrance into the world,— and examine 

 tne taooV in which the tendencies and powers that he possesses are developed *nd 

 directed by external inflnmres . It must explain the multiplex variations of human 

 nature, and of tJI its outer manifestations, and shew how the succession ef 

 generations modilkvt them and causes new ethnic developments. 



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