Queries of Anthropology.
By the late Sir A. W. Franks, K.C.B., F.R.S.
I. Physical Character.
Average height of men and women in each tribe. Character of hair: straight, wavy, curly, frizzy, or woolly. Prognathism. Strength in lifting and carrying weights, &c. Speed in running. Accuracy of aim. Knowledge of numbers, weights, and measures.
II. Mode of Subsistence.
Whether mainly by hunting, or by pastoral or agricultural pursuits. Any instances of dwellings in caves.
Use of boats; forms of boats and of paddles; mode of paddling.
Any particular stratagems used in hunting, snares and traps; implements for hunting; use of dogs and of cross-bows, as well as bows and arrows.
Fishing; nets; fish-hooks; spears; any javelins or arrows with loose heads attached by a cord.
Modes of cooking, and implements used; any particular observances in cooking or at meals; any separation of sexes at meals. How is fire produced? and are any persons charged with the preservation of it?
Forms and construction of houses. Separation of the sexes.
Furniture of houses.
Plans of towns and fortifications.
Plants cultivated for food or manufactures; agricultural implements.
III. Religion and Customs.
Birth ceremonies.
What are the idols and their names? Is there any distinction between them in importance? What worship is paid to them? and what offerings are made, and on what occasions?
Are there any particular superstitions? What fetishes or amulets are used? by whom are they made? Are there any forms of divination, any use of casting lots with cowries, ordeals by poison or otherwise?
Vampire beliefs and ghost beliefs generally.
Cannibalism, and motives for the same.
Funeral rites. Belief in a future state. Deposit of objects with the dead, and whether deposited broken or whole, in or on the graves.
Are burial customs associated with belief in destiny after death?
It is important that the traveller should distinguish between genuine native traditions and those acquired through contact with civilised peoples.
Peace survivals among newer peoples.
IV. Arts and Manufactures.
Mode of spinning and weaving; patterns and materials employed.
Dyeing and nature of dyes.
Any mode of preparing and working leather.
Any knowledge of glass-making. If not acquainted with the manufacture of glass, do they melt down broken European glass and beads to make armlets and other ornaments?
Musical instruments: their forms, nature, and names.
Knowledge of pottery and mode of manufacture.
Use and manufacture of tobacco and other narcotics; forms of tobacco-pipes; any ceremonies connected with smoking; use of snuff; snuff-bottles.
Manufacture and trade in salt, wine, beer, or other liquors.
Knowledge of simple medical remedies, cupping, etc.
Ivory and wood-carving.
Metallurgy: working in the various metals, whether by a special class of people or tribes; implements used in smelting, etc. Where are the ores obtained?
Is there any knowledge of precious stones?
V. Personal Ornaments, Disfigurements, etc.
Are there any special marks made by tattooing or cicatrices to distinguish the various tribes? are they the same in both sexes? Drawings of these marks would be very desirable, distinguishing each tribe.
Are the teeth filed or knocked out? If the former, into what shapes are they filed? when is the filing effected? and is it the same for both sexes?
Is antimony used for the eyelids? and how is it applied?
Are ear-ornaments worn by either sex? are they pendent or inserted in the lobe? Are there any nose or lip ornaments?
Is the hair cut into any peculiar shape, or is its colour altered by dyeing?
Is any cap or protection worn on the penis, as by the Kafirs and other tribes?
Any peculiarities of dress for men and women? any distinction between married and unmarried?
What protection is worn in battle? What are the forms of the weapons? and is any missile weapon in use?
Is there any mutilation of the sex organs?
Are any marks used as distinctions for bravery, success in hunting or rank?
VI. Ivory and Wood Carving.
If elephant ivory is not of native origin, where is it obtained? Are any other materials of the same nature employed in carving, such as walrus-tusk, cachalot teeth, etc.? Are any very hard woods employed; and if so, how are they worked?
VII. Money.
What kinds of money are in use? Do the coins pass by weight as bullion, or have they a recognised value? Are any objects such as iron bars or tools, salt, pieces of cotton, cowries, beads, wampum, etc., employed as a means of exchange? If so employed, is there any recognised way in which their value is certified, or is their value the subject of bargain in each case?