was given by the Indian missionaries either to the unconverted inhabitants, or to a race of people supposed at one time to inhabit the coast, similar to the present Andaman Islanders. These, of course, have long disappeared, but the name remains.

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Dr. CHARNOCK did not agree that the appellation Mran-ma is a corruption of Brahma; nor the reverse. The name may not be of native origin. It might be from the Thai or language of Siam, or one of the neighbouring languages. The name of the tribe was perhaps from that of a part of the country. In Anamitic, miên is rendered "regio," and mên," regnum ;" hence Cao-mên Cambodice regnum. Further, the name of the district of Aracan or Racaing may be derived from the town, and the latter from its river; just as Aeng, in the same country, appears to have had its name from the river Aeng. The Anamitic word rach is rendered "rivus," and kinh “ magnus;" so that the name Racaing may mean " great river." This kinh is another orthography of the Chinese king, great, lofty (figuratively a kingdom); hence Pihking, Nan-king, Tun-king (Tonquin). But the appellation Mran-ma (in Chinese Mreen or Mien) is possibly from the Sanscrit. In the latter language baran or varan means "class" or "tribe;" and ma, "great ;" and mran would easily corrupt from ma-baran. A great deal of Sanscrit is found not only in Siamese and Tibetan, and all over India, but even in Russian river names. That the tribes of North Aracan are an intelligent people seems to be proved by their knowledge of horticulture. They pinch off the tops of their tobacco plants, whereas those not acquainted with horticulture would probably shorten them with a knife. One of the names of the original inhabitants of Aracan is that of Magh or Mugh. Many of them dwell in Chitagong. One of their customs is peculiar. When a man wishes to raise money, he mortgages his wife until the debt is paid off, or only for a short period. He (Dr. Charnock) thought this an excellent arrangement, and had no doubt that if the custom were introduced into England, where there are quite eighty-five per cent. of ill-assorted marriages, there would be more business done in this line than on the Stock Exchange. The name Magh or Mugh is not a native name, but is probably derived from the Persian, in which language it has the various meanings of tavern-keeper, wine-drinker, fire-worshipper, pagan, lunatic, infidel. The latter signification seems to agree with the religion practised by the natives of Aracan. They are infidels to the Persians and many of the neighbouring peoples.

Mr. ST. A. ST. JOHN, in reply to a question on the upright stones, said when he went into the village all the inhabitants were out in the jungle, and he had no opportunity of finding out what they were erected for. He only observed this rough attempt at a circle in one village, but elsewhere he had occasionally seen single stones, which were said to have been set up in the same manner as a post to show the number of oxen that had been slaughtered, and were then set up simply because they were to hand.

The following papers were read by the Director.

THE AINOS: ABORIGINES OF YESO. By Commander H. C. ST. JOHN, R.N.

THIS strange race, inhabiting Yeso, Saghalien, and the southern of the Kurile Islands, are in Yeso and Kunashir entirely under subjection to the Japanese, and are made use of in hunting, fishing, and collecting seaweed. In the interior of Yeso they must be freer and more independent, as the Japanese are at present content with settling along the coast, and know little or nothing of other parts of the island. The Ainos naturally prefer the coasts, food being much more certain and more easily procured.

According to the Japanese, there are ten thousand Ainos in Yeso alone. This I think is greatly in exaggeration of their real numbers. From what information I could gain, it would appear the race is decreasing. They live quite distinct from the Japanese, having a separate village, as it were, in the same settlement. The Japanese look down upon them, and despise them, talk of them as quite inferior beings, and have no nearer connection with them than is necessary between masters and slaves. The Ainos are below the middle statue, the men averaging five feet two inches to five feet four inches in height. Their frames are light and wiry, short muscular development being very rare. They are well proportioned and well knit together, showing no certain peculiarity or variety. The women are short; their average height is rather under five feet. Like the men, they are spare, stoutness being quite exceptional. They are capable of undergoing toil and exposure similar to the men, both sexes doing the same work.

The condition of the Ainos along the coast is materially altered and bettered by the introduction of rice as a part of their daily diet, supplied by the Japanese authorities at the different stations. The colour of their skin is dark; a copper colour, with an olive tint, or a dirty copper. There appears almost perfect uniformity in their colour, both in the north and south of the islands. Occasionally I noticed a man having a darker complexion than usual, but I never observed that variation among the women. The children varied only in having a clearer copper hue than the elder people. Their features are regular, good, and decidedly pleasing; entirely distinct from the Mongolian, having neither the high-cheeked bone, nor oblique upper eyelid peculiar to that race. Many have most intelligent faces. Their temples are flat; foreheads broad, square, and high. Arch of the head flat; entire head round and well shaped. Their lips are full, but not repulsively so. They resemble the European race, not alone in their features and general contour, but in their expression. Their