118 
proving that they all must have had a common origin ; and it is 
an essential element in the history of any tribe or nation to dis¬ 
cover from what country it obtained its alphabet. With the 
alphabet, it is probable that it derived other and not less 
important parts of its civilization. 
1. Do any methods of the nature of writing exist ? 2. When 
it is desired to send a message to a distance, to recruit a war- 
party, to record numbers, to preserve the name and feats of a 
dead warrior, &c., does any method exist of tying knots in a 
string, making notches in a tally, figures on wood, bark, or 
stone ? 3. Do such marks exist on the rocks in the neighbour¬ 
hood, as if made for the purpose of record P 4. Are pictures or 
carvings made for the purpose of communication or record, as 
distinct from mere ornament ? 5. If so, does the picture 
simply indicate an object such as it represents, i.e. is the 
system one of picture-writing ? 6. Or is any trace to be found 
of the picture representing not the object itself, but the sound 
of its name, i. e. is any rudiment of phonetic writing notice¬ 
able ? 7. If pictures or other characters are used for phonetic 
purposes, what is the system of their use? 8. Is there a 
system of signs for syllables or letters? 9. Is any mixed 
system of picture-signs and sound-signs used, as in the 
Egyptian hieroglyphics ? 10. Is the syllabarium or alphabet 
apparently of pure native invention, or suggested by the sight 
of some civilized alphabet? or is it directly borrowed from 
some other country ? 11. Is there any record of the time and 
circumstances under which a foreign alphabet was introduced ? 
12. Is printing of any kind from stamps, blocks, or types in 
use ? 13. Give drawings of any owner’s marks upon arrows, 
weapons, tools, &c. 14. Draw mason’s marks, cattle-brands, 
ciphers, and secret signs. 
No. LXXIL—DRAWING. 
By Col. A. LANE FOX. 
Great difference is observable in the capacity for drawing 
shown by different races. Thus the Esquimaux are com¬ 
paratively skilful draughtsmen, whilst the Australians, as a 
rule, have but little or no knowledge of it. Amongst the 
relics found in the caves of Perigord, in France, life-like repre- 
