138 
This is well shown by weapons &c., all the varieties of which 
should he noticed, and drawings of them preserved. Many of 
the connecting- links between existing forms have no doubt been 
lost, but might be discovered by inquiring of the older natives, 
or by examining the relics deposited in the graves. 
It is obvious that these remarks apply to arts and customs in 
general. 
Are, then, variations of this kind noticed which seem to 
have arisen in the tribe, as to social customs, penalties, and 
course of judicial procedure, religious doctrines, ceremonies, 
&c. P Can reasons be assigned for these changes taking place, 
and especially are they improvements P Do the tribe tell any 
myths &c. slightly altered from the form in which they are 
current among neighbouring tribes p 
No. XCIIX.—INVENTION. By E. B. TYLOB, Esq., E.R.S. 
Among nations capable of historical record, account is to some 
extent given of the invention of particular arts, the introduc¬ 
tion of new laws, the change of customs, &c. All such ac¬ 
counts should be preserved, although, more often than not, they 
are but fables invented to account for the facts. Otherwise our 
information as to new inventions &c. must be derived from in¬ 
spection of the arts themselves. Thus some instruments show 
that they must have been derived by improvement from earlier 
and ruder forms, as the cross-bow from the long-bow. Some 
arts are judged to have grown up among a particular tribe be¬ 
cause no neighbouring tribe possesses them—like the use of 
iron pyrites for striking lire among the Fuegians. The best 
general advice to observers is, that in cataloguing the details 
of art and customs, they should carefully look for symptoms of 
native invention and modification. 
1. Are there any arts used which are not common to most or 
all tribes of the district P 2. If so, are they such as the people 
themselves probably invented ? 3. Are there any tools, weapons, 
&c. used which seem as though they had been improved or 
modified by the people ? 4. Are any such arts connected with 
plants or minerals specially belonging to the district, so as to 
show that they were no doubt brought into use by direct dis¬ 
covery or invention there ? 5. Do the people themselves claim 
to have invented any such art &c. ? and if so, is the alleged in¬ 
ventor a mythic personage or divine ancestor, or does he belong 
to actual history ? 
