82 APPENDIX TO EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



meut only. By this meaus the characteristics of displacement can be 

 studied independent of the phenomena of degradation, with which, 

 in nature, they are always associated, and by which they are more 

 or less obscured ,• and a comparison of the stereogram with the relief 

 map gives approximate quantitative results of degradation ; that is, the 

 two factors of mountain structure, elevation by displacement and degra- 

 dation by rains and rivers, are separated, that each may be considered 

 independent of the complicating conditions of the other. 



Geological illustration. — Much attention has been paid to the graphic 

 representation of the important features of geological structure. The 

 Eocky Mountain Region has proved to be one of great interest in this 

 branch of investigation, because of the peculiar features of its physical 

 geography. Long and towering escarpments are found, deep canons 

 with precipitous walls are numerous, its hills and mountains are often 

 without soil and vegetation, accumulations of subaerial or glacial drift 

 are infrequent, and thus the general rock-structure is well revealed. 

 Several new methods of illustration have been devised, some of which 

 have already appeared in the publications of the survey. 



Ethnographic work. — During the season the ethnographic work was 

 more thoroughly organized, and the aid of a large number of volunteer 

 assistants living throughout the country was secured. 



Mr. W. H. Dall, of the United States Coast Survey, prepared a paper 

 on the tribes of Alaska, and edited other papers on certain tribes of Ore- 

 gon and Washington Territory. He also superintended the construction 

 of an ethnographic map to accompany his paper, including on it the 

 latest geographic determinations from all available sources. His long 

 residence and extended scientific labors in that region peculiarly fitted 

 him for the task, and he has made a valuable contribution, both to eth- 

 nology and geography. With the same volume was published a paper 

 on the habits and customs of certain tribes of the State of Oregon and 

 Washington Territory, prepared by the late Mr. George Gibbs, while he 

 was engaged in scientific work in that region for the government. The 

 volume also contains a Niskwalli vocabulary, with extended grammatic 

 notes, the last great work of the lamented author. In addition to the 

 map above mentioned and prepared by Mr. Dall, a second was made, 

 embracing the western portion of Washington Territory and the northern 

 pat of Oregon. The map includes the latest geographic information, 

 and is colored to show the distribution of Indian tribes, chiefly fro m 

 notes and maps left by Mr. Gibbs. Much of the linguistic material of 

 this volume was collected by correspondents of the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution, and turned over to Professor Powell to be consolidated with 

 materials collected by members of his corps. 



These papers form a quarto volume of 361 pages, entitled Contributions 

 to North American Ethnologj', Volume I, the first of a series to be pub - 

 lished on this subject. 



Volume II, relating to the tribes of the eastern portion of Washington 



