Catalogue of Linguistic Manuscripts in the Library of the Bureau of Ethnology. | Page 2

travellers, and others, the following is recommended as a STANDARD VOCABULARY. It is mainly the one prepared by the late Hon. Albert Gallatin, with a few changes made by Mr. Hale, the Ethnologist of the United States Exploring Expedition, and is adopted as that upon which nearly all the collections hitherto made for the purpose of comparison have been based. For the purpose of ascertaining the more obvious relations between the various members of existing families this number is deemed sufficient. The remote affinities must be sought in a wider research, demanding a degree of acquaintance with their languages beyond the reach of transient visitors."
The vocabulary given in this paper was separately printed on writing paper, 10 ll., 4^o, and reprinted, 6 ll., folio, and was distributed widely among the missionaries, Indian agents, travelers, and local collectors in ethnology, and has served a valuable purpose, resulting in the collection by the Smithsonian Institution of a large number of vocabularies, comprising many of the languages and dialects of the Indian tribes of the United States, British America, and Mexico.
This material, as it was received, was placed in the hands of Mr. Gibbs for revision and classification--a work in which he was engaged at the time of his death, which occurred before any of it was published.
In 1876, Professor Henry turned this material over to Maj. J.W. Powell, then in charge of the United States Geographical and Geological Survey of the Rocky Mountain Region, to be consolidated and published in connection with like material collected by himself and his assistants while among the Indians of the western portion of the United States. A number were accordingly published in the "Contributions to North American Ethnology," Vols. I and III, a quarto series issued by the Survey.
Wishing to extend the work already begun by the Smithsonian Institution, Major Powell, in 1877, prepared the following paper:
Introduction | to the | Study of Indian Languages, | with words, phrases, and sentences to be collected. | By J.W. Powell. | Washington: | Government Printing Office. | 1877.
Pp. 1-104, 10 ruled ll., 4^o.
In his opening remarks, referring to the manuscripts derived from the distribution of Mr. Gibbs' paper, the author says: "It has, in fact, greatly stimulated investigation, giving wiser direction to inquiry, and the results have abundantly proved the value of the 'Instructions' and the wisdom of its publication; and it serves to mark an epoch in the history of ethnographic investigation in America. The material which has thus been accumulated is of great amount, and its study has led to such important conclusions that it is deemed wise to prepare a new system of instruction, more comprehensive in plan and more elaborate in detail. First, it is found necessary to enlarge the alphabet so as to include a greater number of sounds, which have been discovered in the North American languages, and to mark other letters with greater precision. Second, it is necessary to enlarge the vocabulary so as to modify it somewhat, as experience has dictated, so that new words may be collected. Third, it is desirable that many simple phrases and sentences should be given--so chosen as to bring out the more important characteristics of grammatic structure."
In the preparation of this paper, the alphabet was considered to be of prime importance. Concerning it, the author says: "After devoting much time to the consideration of the subject, and the examination of many alphabets devised by scholars and linguists, none was found against which there was not serious objections, and the author attempted to devise an alphabet which would contain all the supposed requirements; but there were many difficulties in the way, and many compromises to be made in weighing the various considerations. At this stage of the work he applied to the eminent philologist, Prof. W.D. Whitney, for assistance. After much consultation and the weighing of the many considerations arising from the large amount of manuscript material in the author's hands, Professor Whitney kindly prepared the following paper on the alphabet."
The words, phrases, and sentences to be collected are arranged in schedules, each preceded by instructions, and followed by blanks for additions, as follows:
I. Persons, 15 words.
II. Parts of the body, 103 words.
III. Relationships: Relationships arising from the first and second generations, 58 words. Relationships arising from the third generation, 224 words. Relationships arising from the fourth generation, 24 words. Names of children in order of birth, 26 words.
IV. Social organization.
V. Governmental organization, 22 words.
VI. Religion, 6 words.
VII. Disposal of the dead, 8 words.
VIII. Dress and ornaments, 39 words.
IX. Dwellings, 26 words.
X. Implements and utensils, 36 words. Basket-ware, 15 words. Woodenware, 7 words. Utensils of shell, horn, bone, &c., 5 words. Stone implements, 13 words. Pottery, &c., 11 words.
XI. Food, 6 words.
XII. Games and sports, 5 words.
XIII. Animals: Mammals, 91 words. Parts of the body,