ON ETHNOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION. 013 



ure, but metallura}', pottery, sculpture, and drawing' should be inter- 

 rogated, in examining their remains, on American soil. Inscriptions 

 on rocks are of value, as antiquarian proofs, as well as all traces of the 

 ancient method of symbol or picture writing. 



But whatever degree of care is evinced by personal inspection, it is 

 essential to the purposes of comparison that a full and complete collec- 

 tion of antiquarian objects, and the characteristic fabrics of nations, 

 existing and ancient, should be formed and deposited in the Institution. 

 By adding to this, from time to time, such implements of art or war, 

 articles of costume, or other objects of curiosity, as might be obtained, 

 there would be formed, in the end, a museum of mankind, wherein each 

 tribe and naition would be characteristically represented. Such a mu- 

 seum would, in itself, be a desideratum.* 



Nothing is more characteristic of the intellectual existence of man 

 than language. It is found to be a more enduring monument of ancient 

 affinities than the physical type, and there is no tribe however situated 

 from whom this proof of affiliation should not be obtained. By collect- 

 ing a vocabulary and grammar of every known tongue, from printed 

 and verbal sources, the Institution would present to the world a library 

 of philology which would cause its site to be resorted to from the re- 

 motest quarters. In the United States and British North America 

 alone we have at least sixty-four dialects and languages.t Nor should 

 the mythology of rude nations be neglected. It is the framework of 

 their philosophy and their religion, and gives character to their songs 

 and poetry and every form of intellectual excitement. 



Finally, both the duty of observation in the field, and the examina- 

 tion of facts and evidences in the cabinet or library, may be commenced 

 immediately, and need not be delayed until the contemplated buildings 

 are completed, and other parts of the library, &c., perfected. Tiuie is 

 essential in making preliminarj- examinations. The consideration of the 

 country may be taken ujj in a separate and systematic manner, taking 

 valley by valley, or State by State. Some portions of the land are more 

 prominent in their claims to notice than others; but in all over which 

 the tide of modern emigration sets, the evidences of its former occupa- 

 tion are rapidly disappearing. The same may be said of the Bed Kace, 

 whose language and customs it is wished to preserve. The earlier the 

 labor is done, the more easy will be its execution. In the Mississippi 

 Valley alone, where so many evidences of the earliest and heaviest 

 ancient population exist, but a few years will place the most important 

 facts beyond our reach. By adopting the plan suggested, or some plan 

 of this nature, we shall rescue from the oblivion of past generations 

 matter for thought and reflection for the future. As fast as the in for 



* Many valuable objects of this kind have been bronght home by the exploring ex- 

 pedition, and are now deposited in the Patent Office, 

 t Gallatin, Am. Ant. Col., Vol. 2: 



H. Mis. 15 58 



