62 
No. XXXIII.—MYTHOLOGY. 
By E. B. TYLOR, Esq., E.R.S. 
The collection of mythic stories among the lower races may 
he conveniently carried on with a view to several points of 
interest. It is desirable to take them down verbatim from the 
lips of a skilled storyteller, as they thus form specimens of the 
language iu its best form, exhibiting native metaphor, wit, and 
picturesque diction. They should be copied out with an exact 
translation between the lines or on the same page. As to the 
subject-matter of mythic legends, they contain the ideas of the 
people on religious subjects, names of gods, &c. often in more 
original and exact forms than those used in common conversa¬ 
tion. Real traditions of historical events and names often 
appear in them, and mentions of old arts, customs, and states of 
society, which are historical material of high quality; incidental 
remarks in them show the moral and social state of the people, 
often with curious contrasts between old times and new. The 
episodes, jests, &c. in mythic legends should be particularly 
noticed when they correspond to those known in the legends or 
folk-lore of other races, for such evidence throws light on the 
connexion or intercourse in former times between the two races. 
For this end it is especially desirable to separate all matter 
which might have been borrowed from the religious and other 
traditions of the Christians, Moslems, Buddhists, &c., so as to 
leave the native mythology as pure and genuine as possible. It 
would thus be a serious mistake to suppose the mythology of 
the lower races of little scientific value. Few studies throw 
more light on the 
human mind. 
1. Are mythic legends, fairy tales, &c. told habitually? and 
is any special class of priests, bards, &c. concerned especially in 
preserving them ? 2. How far are they seriously believed, and 
stand in the place of history and religious teaching ? and how 
far are they told as nursery tales and popular jests, for mere 
amusement ? 3. Are the personages who figure in them con¬ 
sidered to be real and historical ? and are there other traces of 
such heroes, chiefs, &c. having really lived ? 
4. What stories come under the heading of nature-myths, 
being told of the sun, moon, stars, rivers, &c. as personal beings ? 
5. Do any of the heroes and heroines bear names which suggest 
such origin ? or do their feats seem to be suggested by natural 
phenomena ? 6. Are there, for example, myths relating to the 
sun, his birth, course, and death $ day and night; eclipses; the 
early history of the human race and the 
