Smith.] "^y [Nov. 18, 



He is fed twice a day by an old woman, at low water, with salmon 

 caught in the preceding year. At the end of the first month he deposits 

 his clothing in the woods, and then he is allowed to sit in a corner of the 

 house, but must not speak to the other people. A separate door is cut, as 

 he is not allowed to use the house door. Before he leaves the house for 

 the first time, he must approach the door three times and return without 

 going out. Then he is allowed to leave the house. After four months 

 he may speak to other people. After ten months his hair is cut short, 

 and the end of the year is the end of the mourning period. After the 

 death of a chief, his son gives a great festival, in which he takes the 

 office and name of his father. At first, four mourning songs are sung, 

 which have a slow movement, and then the son of the chief stands up, 

 holding the copperplate in his hand and saying, " Don't mourn any 

 more. I will be chief. I take the name of my father." 



The marriage ceremonies of the Kwakiutl tribes are very remarkable. 

 The dowry of the bride consists of bracelets made of beaver toes, copper- 

 plates, so called " button- blankets, " and the Gyiserstal. The latter is a 

 board, the front of which is set with sea-otter teeth. It is intended to 

 represent the human lower jaw ; and the meaning is, that the bride will 

 have to speak or be silent, as her husband may desire. Before and after 

 the marriage, the sou-in-law gives many presents to his wife's father. 

 If the woman intends to return to her parents, her father must repay all 

 he has received from his son in-law. This is done frequently, in order to 

 give an opportunity to the father-in-law to show his liberality and wealth. 

 As soon as he has paid the husband, the latter repurchases his wife. The 

 use of the Gyiserstal is very limited. I found it only among the Kwakiutl 

 proper and Nimkish. 



I do not intend to describe the houses, the hunting and fishing, and 

 industries of all these tribes, neither will I attempt to discuss the character 

 of the art products of the different groups. I Jiave endeavored to show 

 in my remarks that the culture of the Northwest American tribes, which 

 to the superficial observer seems so uniform, originates from many differ- 

 ■ent sources, and that only a thorough knowledge of the languages, folk- 

 lore, and customs of these tribes and their neighbors will enable us to 

 trace at least part of their obscure history. 



Electrolysis of Lead Solutions. Determination of Boric Acid. Dihnlogen 

 Derivatives of Salicylic Acid. Barite. By Edgar F. Smith. 



(Bead before the American Philosophical Society, Nov. ISth, 1SS7. ) 



The following is a report of work prosecuted in the laboratory of Wit- 

 tenberg College, Springfield, Ohio, during the past year, partly by myself 

 and partly by students under my supervision : 



I. Electrolysis of Lead Sohitions. 



Lead is one of the metals which has given analysts considerable trouble 



