St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-04-19
RED MANS LANGUAGES.
Bureau of EthnOIoxy Engaged In
Looking Up the Various Tongues
of the AbOrigines.

The recording of the Indian Ian
guages of this country by the experts
| of the bureau of ethnology is proving
a fascinating task to those engaged
upon it, and has been productive OF
most interesting results, says the
Washington Times. Some of these
aboriginal tongues have been found
to rival the ancient Greek in beauty OF
expression. Grammars and diction-
Aries have been prepared of some OF
the languages, a species of work in
words had, in every instance, to be re-
corded phonetically in the letters OF
the English alphabet.
There are about 100 separate and dis
tinct linguistic branches known to
have existed in North America, and of
these, the bureau of ethnology has Sc
cured records, more or less complete.
Of about IS. Many of these languages,
records of which have thus been made.
are dead, so that the data concerning
them compiled by the bureau are of
inestimable value.
The entire data already collated Of
fer to the student of philology the
most perfect and satisfactory record
of the origin, growth, development
and relation of languages among prim-
tive mankind that has ever yet been
obtained.
This unique linguistic material has
been collected not only for linguistic
1o,,< %1 ~
depreciation of the primitive mind.
One Of the curious results obtained
is the fact that certain words in Amer
lean languages are related in meaning
to words of similar sound in trans
oceanic tongues, just as the Indian ar
row is like that of the Orient and other
parts Of the world, not only in general
form and function, but even in symbol
fc markings.
Certain hieroglyphics of the Occi-
dent are similar to those of Egypt and
the east in form and significance; the
calendar of Mexico duplicates in essen
tial features the calendars Of India
toms of America resemble those of
Africa and Australia, and the beliefs
and ceremonials of the American
aborigines simulate and sometimes ex-
actlyI repeat those of India, China and
other countries.
These resemblances in the intel
lectual products of mankind have been
carefully considered and weighed in
An effort to trace general ethnic rela-
ton, and the conclusion that has been
reached that, in the vast majority of
cases, they cannot be regarded as in
dicating connection among peoples,
and seem rather to indicate law of
mental action-the law that different
minds of equal capacity act similarly
in like circumstances.
Hopes are entertained by the bureau
of the return of Col. Scott, from Cuba,
in which case valuable addition to
the knowledge of the Indian sign lam
guage may confidently, it is said, be
looked for. Col. Scott is the greatest
living authority on the interesting
matter of the sign language, which
has been ascertained to be veritable
art of expression, logically coordi-
nate with lingual utterance, and per-
haps of equal Importance in the form
alive stage of language.
The signs were originally demon
strative or mimetic, though many of
these were developed into partially
denotive symbols.
By the use of these symbols the In
dams were able not only to exchange
intelligence at distances, but also to
communicate with each other despite
differences in dialects; and, indeed,
since the signs were less completely