It is proved by similarities in the languages of the European peoples and the Hindus and the Persians that they had in some sense a common origin. It is not indeed probable that they are sprung from the same parents: but their ancestors once formed a group of closely associated peoples who lived beside one another as neighbours and used either the same language or dialects of the same language. The peoples which had in this sense a common origin comprise all those that belong to the stocks of the Hindus, the Persians, the Celts, the Greeks, the Italians, the Teutons and the Slavs, and are known collectively as the Aryans or as the Indo-European peoples. The evidence of language not only proves that the Aryans lived together as neighbours, but also tells us something about their pursuits and habits. From the languages of the Greeks, the Romans, the Germans and the ancient Hindus we learn that the forefathers of these peoples before they left their common dwelling-place were acquainted with the most important domestic animals and had a name for each of them: for the words _cow_, German _Kuh_, Sanskrit _gâus_, Greek βοῦς, Latin _bos_, are mere variations from an Aryan word whose meaning they retain unaltered: the same is true of the word _ewe_, Sanskrit _avis_, Greek ὄϊς, Latin _ovis_; of _goose_, German _Gans_, Sanskrit _hansas_, Greek χήν, Latin _anser_; of _sow_, German _Sau_, Sanskrit _sû_, Greek σύς or ὕς, Latin _sus_; of _hound_, German _Hund_, Sanskrit _çvan_, Greek κύων, Latin _canis_; and of Sanskrit _açvas_, Greek ἵππος, Latin _equus_, Saxon _eoh_ or _ehu_. In like manner the words _door_, German _Thüre_, Sanskrit _dvaras_, Greek θύρα, Latin _fores_, prove that the Aryans used a word bearing the same meaning and therefore their dwellings were something more than mere tents or moveable huts. _Yoke_, German _Joch_, Sanskrit _jugam_, Greek ξυγόν, Latin _jugum_, prove that they employed cattle for draught; ἄξων, Latin _axis_, Sanskrit _akshas_ (axle and cart), Old High German _ahsa_ (axle) indicate the use of carts; the Sanskrit _nâus_, Greek ναῦς, Latin _navis_, German _Nachen_, show that they could make boats: the Sanskrit _aritram_ (an oar or paddle[1]), Greek ἐρετμός, Latin _remus_ (_resmus_), prove that they propelled them by rowing or paddling. The absence however of common words for a mast, a sail, the sea, indicate that the waters that they knew were rivers or small lakes and that they did not possess the art of getting propulsion from the wind[2]. [1] See Curtius, _Grundzüge der Griechischen Etymologie_, under the word ἀρόω. [2] The evidence derived from comparison of the Greek, Latin and Sanskrit is taken from Mommsen, _History of Rome_, English translation, vol. I. p. 15: the additional evidence from German languages from Max Müller, _Chips from a German Workshop_, vol. II. pp. 22, 44. Curtius, _Grundzüge der Griechischen Etymologie_, has been used for verification.