175 
No. XLV.—HISTORY. 
While remembering that all ancient history and tradition, 
and especially that of savage tribes and barbaric nations, is 
in large measure fabulous, travellers will do well to take 
down oral legends and procure written documents where they 
exist. Beside the mention of really historical events and 
persons, much may be learnt from details thus incidentally 
given as to relations with other people, manners and customs, 
arts, &c. Even the evidently mythical parts, as showing con¬ 
nexion with the legends of other nations, may afford impor¬ 
tant evidence as to the history of the tribe or nation which 
possesses them. It is desirable to have such documents in 
the exact words of the narrator or scribe, with verbatim 
translations. Care should be taken as far as possible to 
distinguish really native matter from that obtained from 
foreigners, such as the borrowed Hindu legends repeated by 
the hill-tribes of India, or the ideas which so many tribes 
have taken up from the Bible or the Koran. 
1. What means exist of preserving the memory of past 
events ? 2. Ho the old people habitually relate them, as at 
feasts ? are they handed down in songs or chants ? have such 
repetitions any religious character? are they specially attended 
to by any class, as of priests or bards ? 3. Is picture-writing, 
or staves of special form, used as a record, or any other method, 
such as the use of beads or knotted cords ? 4. Ho written or 
pictorial records of any sort exist ? and if so, are such records 
held sacred, and where are they kept ? 5. Have they any 
definite chronology ? and is there evidence to how many 
years back they remember or record known events, such as 
visits from Europeans, &c. 
6. What account do they give of themselves, and their con¬ 
nexion with other nations, wars, alliances, &c. ? 7. What 
names does the tribe, nation, or race go by ? and which are 
