243 
tmguish one bird from another, in their descriptions, only by 
the size, the shape, the plumage, the bill, and such-like ex- 
ternal features, and by the risible bearing and habits of the 
individual. A community of human beings without speech, 
but m possession of the ear, would be superior to the deaf and 
um on y m ese natural advantages ; besides expression of 
countenance and gesticulating with their limbs, they could 
imitate sounds, and call at a distance. But these additional 
neLIufTf 1 d T rt 6r r te P? ssessors of them even more inde- 
pendent of, and therefore, less urged by necessity to invent, 
articulate speech. I have not the slightest doubt, if I were 
brought into communication with a savage on his own soil, 
^safety, of course, being guaranteed,) that I could enter into 
k r m ’ Wlthout a sin & le articulate sound 
to fefl d y iwT° fU , S l and ’ allowin g m e only half an hour 
to feel my way, that I could understand everything he had to 
communicate, and he as readily understand me, as if we were 
two persons speaking the same articulate language. The more 
of the savage he was, the better I could converse with him: 
and every one who has paid sufficient attention to the language 
oi natural signs could do the same. S S 
It has often occurred to me that many of the tragical dis- 
asters which have befallen early missionary enterprise! and our 
averte I 'd n !f eXPedltl011S, i b0tl1 by Sea and land > mi g ht have beea 
averted if a person having this familiarity with gesture- 
bee “ among the unfortunate party. & I have 
would not h ^ b ° 01 ' bb g b an< ^ b i s wretched companions 
which tlipv lnf GU S ° crue |^ repulsed from every island at 
of neariv 4 OOn 8 ^! SUCC0Ur durin §“ tlleir unparalleled voyage 
uLann™! mil f °P en boat > if oae of those nineteen 
hemSf ^ u 6611 d6af and dumb i if but one among 
%ible to il “ ade th6lr ° aSe k “ in a la “g aa ge 
the^coast of" ^ ® all ,, endea y°^e d to conciliate the natives of 
by maktfthe ' 7 rej6Cted bis OTert ures, as he thought, • 
with e-esture k ° r 0l J t , tl ?g throats. A person familiar 
whether bv this C0U l. d baVe ascertained in a moment 
merelv exorp^Pr^i* 16 ^ tll J e 1 atened to be ^ perpetrators or 
, J ‘ pressed a dread of being the victims. From their 
the kt behavlour it would seem that they meant to convey 
