PAKT II. 
CULTURE. 
-4- 
No. XVIII.—HISTORY. 
By E. B. TYLOR, Esq., F.R.S. 
While remembering that all aficient history and tradition, and 
especially that of savage tribes and barbaric nations, is in large 
measure fabulous, travellers will do well to take down oral legends 
and procure written documents where they exist. Beside the 
mention of really historical events and persons, much may be 
learnt from details thus incidentally given as to relations with 
other people, manners and customs, arts, &c. Even the evi¬ 
dently mythical parts, as showing connexion with the legends 
of other nations, may afford important evidence as to the 
history of the tribe or nation which possesses them. It is desi¬ 
rable to have such documents in the exact words of the narrator 
or scribe, with verbatim translations. Care should be taken as 
far as possible to distinguish really native matter from that 
obtained from foreigners, such as the borrowed Hindu legends 
repeated by the hill-tribes of India, or the ideas which so many 
tribes have taken up from the Bible or the Koran. 
1. What means exist of preserving the memory of past 
events ? 2. Do the old people habitually relate them, as at 
feasts P are they handed down in songs or chants ? have such 
repetitions any religious character ? are they specially attended 
to by any class, as of priests or bards ? 3. Is picture-writing 
used as a record, or any other method, such as the use of beads 
or knotted cords ? 4. Do written records of any sort exist ? and 
if so, are such records held sacred ? 5. Have they any definite 
chronology ? and is there evidence to how many years back 
they remember or record known events, such as visits from 
Europeans, &c. ? 
6. What account do they give of themselves, and their con¬ 
nexion with other nations, wars, alliances, &c. ? 7. What 
names does the tribe, nation, or race go by ? and which are 
native names used by themselves, and which terms given by 
other people? 8. Do they trace their descent from a first 
