posts, on to the top of the latter was tied a handkerchief, and on to the top of the former a second handkerchief and the pipe of the deceased, and close by was his tin "billy." It was very pathetic to see the belongings of the poor man put by his side ready for the use of his spirit, or perhaps it was the spirits of the objects which were for the use of the spirit of the man.

And now I must close-not because I have exhausted the subject-indeed, I have touched on only a few of the problems that the toys and games of children suggest—but because I have come to an end of my space. We are now discovering the fact that if only we have the understanding, we can learn much of the past history of man from a study of our children. Two thousand years ago, as in our own days, might be seen "children sitting in the market places, which call unto their fellows, and say-'We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not mourn.' This lament might well have been made to their elders-but at last we are beginning to heed their piping and their wailing.

CHAPTER XVI.

PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR CONDUCTING

A

ETHNOGRAPHICAL INVESTIGATIONS

IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS.

N influential committee was appointed by the British Association in 1892 to conduct an ЕTнNOGRAPHICAL SURVEY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM :—

"COPY OF FIRST CIRCULAR.

"SIR,-The above-named Committee, in pursuance of the object for which they have been delegated by the Society of Antiquaries of London, the Folk-lore Society, the Dialect Society, and the Anthropological Institute, and appointed by the British Association, propose to record for certain typical villages and the neighbouring districts :

"(1) Physical types of the inhabitants.

(2) Current traditions and beliefs.

(3) Peculiarities of dialect.

(4) Monuments and other remains of ancient culture; and

(5) Historical evidence as to the continuity of race.

"As a first step the Committee desire to form a list of such villages in the United Kingdom as appear especially to deserve ethnographic study, out of which a selection

might afterwards be made for the survey. The villages or districts suitable for entry on the list are such as contain not less than a hundred adults, the large majority of whose forefathers have lived there so far back as can be traced, and of whom the desired physical measurements, with photographs, might be obtained.

"It is believed by the Committee that such villages may exist in the districts with which you are acquainted, and as you are eminently capable of affording help in this preliminary search, we have to request that you will do so by kindly furnishing the names of any that may occur to you, with a brief account of their several characteristics, mentioning at the same time the addresses of such of their residents as would be likely to support the Committee in pursuing their inquiry.

"They would also be glad to be favoured with the names of any persons known to you in other districts to whom this circular letter might with propriety be addressed."

In January, 1894, another circular was issued from which the following is extracted :—

"They are sure you will excuse their urging what may at first sight appear to be trivial details, but which are in reality of great practical importance to those who have to arrange and consult a large collection of communications from different persons. These are, that the communications should all be written on foolscap paper, and that the writing should be on one side only of the page, and should never run so near the margin as to be an obstacle to future binding.

"The Committee are satisfied that the value of the returns will be much reduced if they do not give information under all the several heads. If it should happen, therefore, that

your own pursuits or means of information do not enable you to fill up the whole of the forms desired, they would take it as a particular favour if you could induce friends to supply the missing details, and thus to render the information complete.

"The Committee, in addressing you individually, wish to disclaim any idea of interfering with the action of local societies, from many of which, on the contrary, they have reason to expect very valuable assistance. If it should suit your convenience to present to your local society an even fuller account of your observations than may be necessary to comply with the requirements of this Committee, such a course would be highly desirable, and it is hoped that the local societies will, on the other hand, give to the observers in their several districts all the encouragement and moral assistance that may be found practicable.

"All communications should be addressed to 'THE SECRETARY OF THE ETHNOGRAPHIC SURVEY, British Association, Burlington House, London, W."

The work done by this Committee will be found in the Reports of the Association, but as yet no systematic survey of the British Islands has been attempted. The Ethnographical Survey of Ireland has been undertaken by a Dublin committee, which is supported by the Royal Irish Academy, and four comprehensive reports have been published by that

*

"The Ethnography of the Aran Islands, County Galway," by Prof. A. C. HADDON and Dr. C. R. Browne, Proc. Roy. Irish Acad. (3rd ser.), ii., 1893, pp. 768-830, pls. xxii.-xxiv. ; "The Ethnography of Inishbofin and Inishshark, County Galway," by Dr. C. R. BROWNE, .c., iii., 1894, pp. 317-370, pls. viii., ix. ; "The Ethnography of the Mullet, Inishkea

body. These reports are drawn up on the following lines :

I. Physiography of the district investigated. II. Anthropography.-1. Methods; 2. Physical characters with lists of measurements; 3. Vital Statistics (general and economic), (a) Population, (B) Acreage and Rental, (c) Language and Education, (D) Health; 4. Psychology; 5. Folk names. III. Sociology.1. Occupations; 2. Family Life and Customs; 3. Food; 4. Clothing; 5. Dwellings; 6. Transport. IV. Folk-lore.-1. Customs and Beliefs; 2. Legends and Traditions; 3. Leechcraft. V. Archæology.I. Survivals. 2. Antiquities. VI. History. Ethnology. VIII. Bibliography.

VII.

It will be evident that this is a somewhat ambitious programme, and although in many instances the information given on a particular subject is meagre, owing to the very limited time available for work in the field, it was considered best to keep to the general scheme in order to emphasize the fact that in all investigations of this kind the widest possible outlook must be maintained.

Islands and Portacloy, County Mayo," by Dr. C. R. BROWNE, .c., iii., 1895, pp. 587-649, pls. xv.-xvii.; "The Ethnography of Ballycroy, County Mayo," by Dr. C. R. BROWNE, l.c., iv., 1897, pp. 74-111, pls. iii., iv.; "The Ethnography of Clare Island and Inishturk, County Mayo," by Dr. C. R. BROWNE, l.c., iv., 1898.