the rule, and punishes its infraction, it is a law ; if it is left 
loosely to public opinion to practically accept the rule, and to 
visit those who disobey with blame, insult, and social exclu¬ 
sion, it is a custom. Many customs are mere habits without 
authority. Many exist whose original meaning is hardly 
known or doubtful. All customs should be recorded, and, 
not least carefully, the obscure ones, in the expectation that 
close examination and comparison with those of other districts 
will disclose their real meaning. The ethnological principle 
is daily growing more certain, that all customs soever had 
originally a real and rational meaning ; they may have now 
lost or altered this by passing into “ survivals , ; ” but when 
analogous examples have been collected from several districts, 
it is usually possible to trace the common cause to which all 
were originally due. 
i. What customs prevail as to salutation, by bowing, 
prostration, touching and shaking hands, kissing, rubbing 
noses, &c. ? 2. Do salutations differ according to rank and 
relationship? 3. Do members of a family greet in the 
morning ? do husbands greet wives, &c. ? 4. How do friends 
and relations meet after long absence or danger—with 
shouting, weeping, &c. ? 5. What are the forms of meeting 
between strangers and enemies in truce ? 6. What are the 
rules of politeness in the household and between strangers ? 
7. Are there special phrases of compliment ? what rules of 
precedence? 8. How are guests served? 9. What are the 
rules of right conduct and politeness between men and 
women ? 10. Do they eat together and associate ? 11. Are 
women consulted and honoured, or treated roughly and con¬ 
temptuously? 12. How are the aged treated ? 13. Are they 
honoured and cherished, or neglected ? 14. Are the hopelessly 
infirm old people and the mortally sick abandoned or put an 
end to ? 
15. What are the rules of hospitality as recognized between 
kinsfolk, neighbours, strangers, and enemies ? 16. What are 
the rules of propriety ? 17. Are the young reproved for being 
forward and impudent? 18. Is respectful demeanour incul- 
.cated? 19. What are the rules of decency? what acts and 
