which frost extends, and in higher latitudes the depth to which 

 the thawing reaches. 



25. Observations on clear nights should be made as to radiation 

 from the earth and the deposition of dew on glass, wood, wool, &c. 



II. Ethnology. 



1. As language affords one of the readiest, and perhaps the most 

 certain mode of tracing affinity among the races of men, it is 

 particularly desired to collect accurate vocabularies of a suffi- 

 cient number of words in common use to make at any rate ap- 

 proximate comparisons. Fuller ones and grammars or partial 

 grammatical forms should be obtained of course, when practica- 

 ble, but as this is not likely to be the case during so short a voy- 

 age, such results as are attainable should be looked for. It is 

 jirobable that Prince Maksoutoff in accordance Avith the example 

 of his predecessors, Admirals Woewodsky and Furuhjelm, will 

 aid in this by distributing the blanks furnished for the purpose 

 to agents at the various ports of the Russo- American Fur Com- 

 pany. The most important tribes remaining are those extending 

 from Copper river along the coast to Cape Fairweather, espe- 

 cially those known as Ugalentses and Galshanes. New vocabu- 

 laries are however wanted of all the Eskimo tribes, including 

 the Namollos of the Asiatic side of Behriug Strait; of the 

 Aleutians, the Kenaiens, and the Koloshians, in their various 

 languages and dialects. 



2. The collection of articles of indigenous manufacture or em- 

 ployment will, of course, form an object of particular interest, 

 and should extend even to the most common and trivial. 

 Drawings, or better stUl, photograj)hs, should be made of dwell- 

 ings, tombs, &c. Should a photographer accompany the expe- 

 dition, it is most important that jiortraits of good size be taken 

 of individuals of as many tribes as possible, less with the view 

 of displaying their dress and ornaments than their features, 

 form of the head, &c. A collection of skulls as far as possible, 

 representing each tribe, should be made and in large numbers of 

 specimens, particularly of the Eskimo nations, great care being 

 taken to give locality and race. 



