Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-16

location of the Indians on the western hem
isphere. Prof. Mason continued his labor
until other duties compelled him to give it
up. when It was placed in charge of Mr..
Henry w. Henshaw. who formulated plan
to make the volume encyclopedia in char
acter. On the organization of the bureau
of ethnology, the late Maj. Powell published
: a classification OF the various tribes by lin
gutstic stock, a scientific basis and that
6 issthe corner stone of the present great un.
dertaking.
Scope of Subjects Covered.
The dissolution Of tribal relations and the
partial civilization of the Indians their edu-
cation in the English language and their
adoption of the customs Of white men
makes 1t very important that every fact
( OF historical or chronological interest con-
corning their aboriginal period should be
couected and preserved as soon as possible
rms work has not been undertaken any
100 soon Twenty-Five or thirty experts have
peen at work for years among the Indians
themselves, gathering material from orig
mai sources; others have been engaged in
searching authentic works relating to the
American tribes; while others have been
putting these facts In chronological order
and preparing them for publication So
much mat erial of vital interest and i'm
pertance has been found that the first edi-
ton Will be. in a measure only general
II is proposed to pursue the inquiries still
FARTHER and add at least two more vol
umes-one of geography and the other of
plography-and thus preserve much mate
rlai that has been crowded out of the hand
book as II stands at present
1t has been the endeavor of the editors
TO make the work as popular as possible
and bring 1t within the understanding of
all classes of people. 1t Is not only book
of reference, but will be a fascinating story
Tor those who are interested In Indian life
ana character. The two volumes will con-
tain, in alphabetical order dissertations of
every tribe and settlement in America north
a. do r,-fyI
history, manners, customs, arts industries
language, religion and methods of govern
ment. The relations of each tribe with the
United States Will be reviewed and a SYM
opsls OF every treaty will be given There
will be a history of the agency system
and the financial relations between the gov
eminent and the Indians, and concise ac-
count OF the policies that have been an
piled from time to time to solve the In
dian problem; the methods which nave been
adopted TO secure their lands for white set
tlement and the endeavors that have been
made toward their civilization. All of the
Indian wars will be described at length
and under the names of each tribe will be
recorded every event and incident of i'm
portance from their first contact with the
white race up TO the date of publication
Names of Tribes.
Special attention has been given to tribal
nomenclature and words of Indian origin
mat have been adopted into the English
language All the tribal organizations will
be defined, and the history of each Will he
given. In many cases there are severaI
names for the same tribe At the time Of
the early exploration and settlement of
worth America there We're encountered
many nations and tribes varying In cus-
toms and speaking diversity of languages
"A iack or knowledge of the aborigines and
total ignorance of their languages led TO
many curious errors on the part of the
early explorers and settlers. Names We're
applied that had no relation whatever to
those by which the same Indians and OBJ
1ects had been originally known. Some of
them were nicknames; other were mistakes
The name of one tribe was frequently ap-
pied TO another; many names were unpro-
nounceable, and could not be presented IN
the English alphabet. Consequently, for
these and other reasons, the early litera-
tole relatng 10 the American Indians, and
I]uch or II down TO the present day Is
confusing and inaccurate The need OF a
comprehensive work, by which these names
might be identified and these words might
De applied In their proper places has been
feit ever since the scientific interest i'm the
Indians was first aroused. The forthcom-
Ing handbook is intended to supply that
need. II VIII include the origin and mean
ing or all Indian words that have been
adopted into the English language and
there are many of them in common use
sach as caucus "mugwump." hickory, .
hOulnyr Opossum, "raccoOn," etc,
Contributors to the Book.
IN 1871, when Mr.. HenShaw was COM
PEELED to give up the editorship on account
OF ill-health, Mr.. F, w Hodge took charge
and he has since had the general editorial
supervision of the encyclopedia, as well as
being one of It's most industrious and i'm
portant contributors. He has been assisted
by Mr.. VIM II. Holmes, chief of the bureau
OF American ethnology; Mr.. James Mooney.
Prof Cyrus Thomas, Mr.. ]. n. b. Hewitt
MISS Alice Fletcher, DIR. ]. r. Swanton DR.
y. Walter Fewkes and other members OF
the stafr of the bureau; DR.. Joseph d Nc
Gu!re. the late DR.. Matthews of the army
Prof OTIS 1. Mason, DR.. Walter Hough
DIR. A. Ardlicka. and others of the Smith
sonian Institution; DIR. Franz Boaz and
DR.. William Jones of the American Museum
of Natural History. Dr. A. L. Trouder. DR..
4. E. Goddard and Prof. S. A Barrett of
the University of California, George A.
Dorsey OF the Field Museum of Chicago
DT. Livingston Farrand of Columbia Uni
Nersity, DR.. Rowland b. Dixon of Harvard
Or. a. F. Chamberlain of Clark University
Worcester, Mass. DR. Stewart Culin of the
brooklyn Institute, George Bird Grinneii
editor OF Forest and Stream. and others.
You Will understand, therefore that the
two volumes VIII represent a vast amount
of research and labor by men whose lives
nave been in constant training for the
outy. Prof. Holmes, director of the
bureau, hopes to have the handbook ready
aor the public during the coming winter.