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leavned men who have devoted so much time to following its
intricate traces, I would ask whether, when a knguage was
not written, or in any manner fixed, it was not liable to vary
continually as fresh separations of families into tribes occurred;
and whether therefore it is possible to do more than classify
unwritten languages, following some few traces of resemblance
which may occasionally be marked, and detecting the root,
thouo-h not the branch .? In such an interesting pursuit, however,
ftvery sign, even the faintest, is valuable but only men
of deep research and extensive learning can advantageously
pursue this method of inquiry into the migrations and early
history of our race.
I believe it will be found that the remarks I have ventured
to make in the preceding pages, are by no means at variance
with most of their deductions; and I much regret that our
opportunities of collecting words, and modes of expression,
were not such as to enable me to add many to their collections.
I i l !'
CHAPTER XXVIir.
A VERY FEW REMARKS WITH REFERENCE TO THE
DELIIGE.
To account for offering a few remarks on a subject so important
and difficult as that of the Deluge, I beg to say that
reflections, arising out of facts witnessed during the Beagle’s
voyage, have occasioned them; and, as results of tliat expedition,
it has appeared to me that they are neither irrelevant to
the narrative, nor likely to be altogether uninteresting to young
men in the navy.
I suffered much anxiety in former years from a disposition
to doubt, if not disbelieve, the inspired History written
by Moses. I knew so little of that record, or of the intimate
manner in which the Old Testament is connected with the
New, that I fancied some events there related might be mythological
or fabulous, while I sincerely believed the truth of
others; a wavering between opinions, which could only be
productive of an unsettled, and therefore unhappy, state of
mind. Some young men, I am well aware, are in a similar
condition, while many others are content to set aside all
reflection, and do as the world does; or rather, as those do
among whom they generally live. Natural affection and respect
for good parents, relations, and elders, never can lead a
young man astray; but there is, perhaps, no guide more fallible
or dangerous than the common custom of those inexperienced
persons who associate together, chiefly for lack of fixed
occupation; and whose principal object is to drive away self!
examination, or prolonged thought, by a continual succession of
idle amusement, or vivid excitement.
Wholesome and necessary as amusement and recreation are,
hoth for mind and body, every one knows how insipid, even
painful their excess becomes ; and external evidence shows but
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