REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 39 



can all harmoniously labor. Consequently, no part of the operations 

 of this Institution has been more generally popular than that which 

 relates to this subject. 



From the preceding reports, it will be seen that the Institution has 

 endeavored especially to promote that part of the general subject of 

 ethnology which relates to language ; and as in this an increasing 

 number of the intelligent public is interested, the publication of the 

 Dakota and Yoruba grammar and dictionary was received with much 

 favor, and more numerous applications have been made for copies of 

 these works than for almost any others which have been issued by the 

 Institution. Indeed, the entire edition of the Dakota grammar and 

 dictionary, except the copies bound up in the volumes of the series of 

 contributions, has been exhausted. The work has not only been con- 

 sidered of value to the students of ethnology, but also to the officers 

 of the government, missionaries, and others who have been called upon 

 to hold intercourse with our western Indians. 



During the past year several works of the same class have been 

 offered to the Institution for publication. Some of these, however, were 

 not in a condition to be printed without revision and philosophical 

 arrangement; and since the death of the lamented Professor Turner, 

 we have experienced difficulty in finding a person of the peculiar 

 skill and learning required for the undertaking of so responsible and 

 difficult a work. We have, however, referred several of the articles 

 presented to us to the American Oriental Society, and have been 

 favored with the advice and assistance of the officers of that association, 

 in enabling us to decide on the disposition of such works ; and among 

 these, the Institution is particularly indebted to Prof. W. D. Whitney, 

 of Yale College, for the important service he has rendered us in this 

 line. 



Several of the grammars and dictionaries which have been presented 

 were approved, and would have been published by the Institution, had 

 not other means been provided' for giving them to the public more 

 expeditiously. Among these, are a grammar of the Grrebo language 

 by Bishop Payne, of Africa, which will be printed by the American 

 Oriental Society ; and also a Creek grammar and dictionary prepared 

 by Mr. Buckner, and about to be published by the Baptist Missionary 

 Board. 



Much interest has been manifested by the students of ethnology in 

 everything which relates to the Indians of the Pacific coast of North 

 America ; and the Institution is accordingly desirous to collect all the 

 reliable information on this subject which it can possibly obtain. In 



