iv 
PREPACE. 
has been delayed longer than was anticipated. Some of the 
anthropologists who were asked to draw np the sections 
have been unable to do so, and others have failed to send in 
their contributions in due time. The result is that some 
few of the sections originally proposed are incomplete; and, 
rather than place them in less skilful hands, they have been 
for the present omitted, and the headings only inserted. 
It is hoped that these sections will be added in an Appendix 
at some future time. 
The object of the work is to promote accurate anthropo¬ 
logical observation on the part of travellers, and to enable 
those who are not anthropologists themselves to supply the 
information which is wanted for the scientific studv of 
anthropology at home. 
History has confined itself chiefly to the achievements 
of special races; but the anthropologist regards all races 
as equally worthy of a place in the records of human 
development. The more remote and unknown the race or 
tribe, the more valuable the evidence afforded of the study 
of its institutions, from the probability of their being less 
mixed with those of European origin. 
* 
Travellers have usually recorded only those customs of 
modern savages which they have chanced to observe ; and, 
as a rule, they have observed chiefly those which their ex¬ 
perience of civilized institutions has led them to look for. 
Nor are there wanting instances in which the information 
thus obtained has been lamentably distorted in order to 
