Hayden.] 390 fApril. 



must ever be incidental to other duties. But few seem to be 

 aware of the rich field that is open to the student in this coun- 

 try, in the careful examination and collection of materials that 

 will show the structure of our aboriginal languages. The time 

 is past when simple vocabularies or lists of words will answer 

 the demands of science. We must know something also of the 

 grammatical forms and idiomatic expressions in order that we 

 may estimate the plane of thought to which each tribe belongs. 

 It seems to me, therefore, more important to secure as far as 

 possible the forms of expression peculiar to each language, so 

 that a more critical comparison of the different stocks and dia- 

 lects may be made. It is my purpose, at some future time, to 

 make a careful comparison of all the Indian languages spoken 

 in the Missouri Valley, and to write a history of each tribe, if 

 sufficient material can be collected. In this preliminary notice, 

 therefore, I shall not treat of the past history of the three tribes 

 referred to in this paper. I would simply state here that my 

 experience has led me to believe that no confidence can be 

 placed in the traditional history of any tribe, very few Indians 

 remembering events, even back to the period of their bo^ hood, 

 with any degree of accuracy. Nothing therefore of a mere 

 traditional character can be accepted as materials of history. 

 The languages of the difi'erent tribes are continually under- 

 going changes, although these changes seem to be those of 

 form rather than of structure. I cannot ascertain that any 

 new grammatical features have ever been introduced within the 

 memory of man. The sounds of the letters are the same as 

 those employed in my former memoir, and to it the reader is 

 referred. 



Pawnee Grammatical Forms and Phrases. 



I am indebted to the kindness of Mrs, E. S. Piatt, for many 

 years a teacher among the Pawnees, and now superintendent 

 of the Government School on the Reservation, for valuable in- 

 formation. She informs me that nouns expressing relationship 

 are declined, but none others. 



Nom., a-ti'-is, \ a-ti'-ra, \ 



Poss., as, V- father. us'-sus, V mother. 



Obj., i-a'-sti, ) i-sha'-sti, ) 



