773 some languages, but not occurring in others, in which cases, to make up for the deficiency, it was necessary to use paraphrase. Dr. Abel then pointed out, that only thoughts common to the whole nation or to large sections of the nation, are embodied in single words, and hence drew the conclusion that the finer shades of national character are most effectually ascertained by a comparison of synonyms. Captain R. F. Burton has contributed a Paper "On the Ethnology of Modern Midian," which was divided. into two parts. 1. Notices of the tribes of Midian; and 2. The manners and customs of the Midianite Bedawin. In the first portion, Captain Burton stated that the country itself, properly called North Midian, is the district extending from Fort El-Akkabah, at the head of the Gulf so named, to Fort El-Muwaglah, a district extending latitudinally about 108 miles, and comprising three distinct tribes of Bedawin, the Humaytat, Maknâwi, and the Beni-Ukbah. In his second part, he traced the present social history of these people, and gave an interesting history of these wild men, who 3 E VOL. XII. 774 have, perhaps, changed less, in the last 3,000 years, than any other known population. To Mr. Robert N. Cust we are indebted for a lively account which he gave, partly orally, of "Spain, its Cities and Customs," in which he described the Cathedrals, the Civil Guard and Brigands, the BullFight, Hotels, Railroads, &c., and the demeanour of the people towards strangers, which, so far as he had the opportunity of mingling with them, appeared to be universally kind, courteous, and hospitable. Travellers had no trouble with the Police or about Passports. Mr. Cust called attention to the so-called "restorations going on at the Al-Hamra in Grenada, which, he thought, were being carried too far. On the other hand, he considered that the restorations in the great Mosque Cathedral at Cordova, and in the Jewish Synagogues at Toledo were judiciously executed. Mr. Cust then described the route viâ Badajoz to Lisbon, where he had the good luck to arrive in time for an Earthquake. Generally, his experience was that Spain was a country well worthy of a single visit; and that, as spacious arenas had been built in every town of Spain, there was not the slightest hope that the peculiar institution of the Bull-Fight would ever be suppressed. COUNCIL AND OFFICERS FOR 1881-82. ELECTED IN APRIL, 1881. PRESIDENT. HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE LEOPOLD, K.G., K.T., DUKE OF ALBANY. VICE-PRESIDENTS. HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE, K.G., F.R.S. THE VERY REVEREND THE DEAN OF WESTMINSTER, D.D., F.R.S. SIR HENRY CRESWICKE RAWLINSON, K.C.B., D.C.L., F.R.S. SIR PATRICK DE COLQUHOUN, Q.C., LL.D. SIR CHARLES NICHOLSON, BART., M.D., D.C.L. GENERAL SIR COLLINGWOOD DICKSON, R.A., K.C.B., V.C. C. MANSFIELD INGLEBY, ESQ., M.A. LL.D. COUNCIL. PERCY W. AMES, ESQ. WALTER DE GRAY BIRCH, ESQ. (Hon. Librarian). C. H. E. CARMICHAEL, ESQ., M.A., M.A.I. W. H. GARRETT, ESQ. T. R. GILL, ESQ. CHARLES GOOLDEN, ESQ., M.A. (Hon. For. Secretary). 3 E 2 |