The Ethnology of the British Colonies and Dependencies

by R. G. (Robert Gordon) Latham

"The Ethnology of the British Colonies and Dependencies" by R. G. Latham is a scientific publication written in the mid-19th century. This work explores the diverse populations and cultural characteristics of various British colonies and dependencies across different continents, emphasizing their ethnological distinctions and historical backgrounds. The opening of the text introduces the topic of European dependencies, starting with a discussion of Heligoland and its connection to ancient German tribes as noted by Tacitus. Latham delves into the ethnological aspects of the island's inhabitants, the Frisians, highlighting their unique cultural traits compared to nearby Germans. He further contrasts this with Gibraltar’s complicated demographics, detailing the mixed ancestry of its residents, and briefly mentions Malta and the Ionian Islands, setting the stage for a broader analysis of colonial regions and their respective populations and characteristics throughout the book.