New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-23

Of them have been distributed to persons VINO, u u
expected, will contribute new information.
Another branch of lnguIstics in wbicn extensive
field work has already been done Is tnat OF
nictnre IanguaGe 4 great portion of the Indian
tribes have developed system OF making pIclures;
some of which represented objects IN nature anu
others the signs used in sign language Each trlDe
and band as we'll as every individual has also nau
private mark by which its property mas Deeh us
tinguished or its presence ID any o %ood
etched on rocks and painted on implements OF wnr
and domestic use Copies OF all pctureSrapns US,
covered, drawn to scale are tfahscIDeu ~ ~ tSo
field by Major PoweIrs subordinates and sent 10 tne
office in Washington, with notes OF the locallGIeS
where they are found ETC.. Among the PueDlo ln-
dams, each Pueblo has historian VINO makes q Le-
cord on wood, which it is bis duty to interpret.
Many Of these histories have been collected ana tne
Interpretation of them has been written ont IN
English. -
The sociology of the Indians forms one OF the
most popular branches OF chronological study. Inc
divisions into families and bodies of kindred; the
combination of these into brOtherhOods tribes and
considerations; the organization of secret societies
of which there are twenty-seven among the Dako-
tas partly social partly religious and partly med-
cinaI. will be described and explained. This Will
be done by Major Powell, who has personally taken
ND the work originally begun by Mr.. Lewis ID. Nor
gan. of the Smithsonian Institution. In this con-
nection there will be discussion OF the unwrltten
laws and customs by which the Indians are held to-
gether in society; OF their marriage and mortuary
customs; and of their daily habits Of life, iustra-
tive of the household arts of the abOrgines, their
architecture means Of subsistence, arts OF war;
manufacture of clothing, etc. Large collections
have already been made and deposited IN the Ma
tOnal Museum
The publications already made consist OF two
unarto volumes of Contributions to North Ameri'
can Ethnology,p treating of Alaska and California
Volumes on Oregon and Washington Territory are
in press and eighteen additional volumes are III
course Of preparation.
PROMPTTUDE IMPORTANT.
This work, like that done by the Geological sur
vey, cannot or will not be done by private enter
prise and if the Investigations are to be made at
all, they must be made by the Government, ana
some of them must be made quickly.
There is in the western portion OF the United
States more material for the study Of primitive
man than can be found elsewhere in the world.
There are tventy-nine inhabited puebos; thou:
sands of ruins mounds caves refuse heaps, etc., an
of which contain material which Will De rapldIy
gathered ND and scattered the country - penera-
ted by railroads and they become acceSslPe 10 one
general traveller. Already the French Government
has invaded our Pacific coast and carried away
whole shiplOads OF most valuable relics ana one OF
it's expeditions will go into Arizona TINS season, 10
gather the most remarkable chronological specimens
from among the PueblO3. In other counta1es theTe
are laws rorbddIng the removal of antq9ltles. NO
such law will probably be passed by OuriCOngress'
but il is to be hoped that appropriations Will De
made with sufficient liberalIty to enable tour Gov
eminent to secure tho most valuable OF THESE an
tiOuiiies before they are taken away by foreign
Governments OF scientific sOcletles. -, :,
4 few thousand dollars expended now VIII enaDie
MAJOR Powell to place in the National museum q col
lection that will be of almost incalculable value
quarter OF a century hence. IL L. W.