The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-17

VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO NATURAL HISTORY
AND THE INDIAN TRIBEs.-During the progress
of the survey Of the Mexican Boundary Commits
sion, Mr.. Bartlett. the Commissioner, devoted
his attention to the collection Of specimens of
the natural history Of the regions explored, en-
bracing their botany, zoology and geology. The
botanical collection is very large and covers
the countries between the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans. on both sides Of the boundary line, en-
bracing the States Of Texas, California, and the
territory Of Utah Oh one side; and on the Next
can, the States of Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango
Tamaulipas, and Coahuila. OF this wide region
very little is known, and the collections of the
Boundary Commission will constitute important
contributions to science, and the contemplated
work Of Mr.. Bartlett describing them. is eagerly
looked forward to by scientific men. The Com
missioner has also collected much information
relating to the Indian tribes of Northern Next
co, and the countries adjacent to the boundary
including those interesting tribes occupying the
valleys of the ella, known as the Coco, Mcri-
copas, and Pimos. As these tribes are still in
their primitive state unchanged by contact
with the whites, their history, manners, and Gus
toms cannot but prove interesting
To render this information more complete,
Mr. Bartlett has made a collection of portraits,
characteristic of the various tribes Of Indians
visited by him, as well as sketches illustrating
their mode of life. He has made full vocabu-
laries of the languages of twenty-five different
tribes, many of which had not before been re-
duced to writing. These vocabularies will be
anxiously sought after by phlologists, who deem
them more important in tracing the afinities
and affiliations of tribes and nations than the
physical characteristics which they present
To this department the Commissioner has de-
voted his particular care. Too much attention
cannot be paid to the collection of information
relating to our Indian tribes. They are fast
diminishing in numbers. and another generation
will only find the remains of the larger nations.
The lesser will soon become extinct. Ii is mat
ter Of surprise to all who visit Washington,
that no museum or gallery has yet been erected
by our government for the purpose of preserv-
ing portraits Characteristic OF the Indian tribes
of the United States together with their arti-
Giles of manufacture, their weapons Of war, and
implements Of husbandry. Every nation in Ea-
rope possesses such collections, illustrating the
history. manners, customs and arts Of their
primitive inhabitants, which are more highly
priced than those collections exhibiting more
advanced state Of civilization. Such colec-
ton, illustrative of our Indian tribes, would, at
this moment be regarded as most valuable and
interesting in London or Paris. Do they pos
SEES less interest for us who possess the soil Of
these aborigines?
The portfolios Of Mr. Bartlett contain several
hundred sketches. presenting the charac teristic
features of the countries bordering on the bsun-
dairy line, between The Gulf of Mexico and the
Pacific ocean, The wild and rugged mountains.
with their intricate or open passes-the vast
plains and deserts lying between the mountain
ranges, TO the mining districts Of chihuahua and
Sonora-views Of the Mexican frontier towns
and military posts or pyesidios-of the valleys
along the Bravo, ella and Colorado rivcrs--of
the old missions in California copies Of hume
rous Indian sculptures and paintings, with draw
ings of the more interesting vegetable produc-
tions, form the subject of these sketches and
drawings. They are entirely new, and give a
much better idea of the district adjacent to the
boundary than the most elaborate written de-
scriptions.
IL is to be hoped that Congress and the exc
cntiyc will take the necessary steps to have
the results Of the labors Of Mr.. Bartlett and bis
distinguished associates Colonel Graham and
Major Emory-in the boundary commission.
presented to the public ia creditable manner.
They would constitute several highly inter
esting volumes Large sums Of money have
been expended in the publication Of works, by
the government Of far less importance TO tie
leople Of the Un''od States