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is that, in cataloguing the details of art and customs, they 
should carefully look for symptoms of native invention and 
modification. 
i. Are there any arts used which are not common to most 
or all tribes of the district? 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 im¬ 
proved 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 discovery or invention there ? 5. Do the people 
themselves claim to have invented any such art, &c. ? and if 
so, is the alleged inventor a mythic personage or divine 
ancestor, or does he belong to actual history? 
E. B. T. 
No. XVXXL—VARIATION. 
Every slight variety which distinguishes the art and custom 
of a tribe from those of its neighbours is worth study, as 
affording evidence of the course of development into new 
forms. This is well shown by weapons, &c., all the varieties 
of which should be 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. ? Can reasons be assigned for these changes taking place, 
and especially are they improvements ? Does the tribe tell any 
myths, &c., slightly altered from the form in which they are 
current among neighbouring tribes? 
E. B. T. 
