254 EXTRACTS FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE. 



The Hon. John R. Bartlett, now secretary of the State of Rhode Island, many- 

 years ago prepared a very elaborate paper, giving all the " authorities" on this- 

 subject, and, if I am not mistaken, published it at the request of the Welsh 

 citizens of New York. He certainly aan elucidate the history of the legend if 

 Mr. McMasters desires to pursue the inquiry in that direction. 



I do not, however, think it necessary to dwell upon that point, or the im- 

 probability of a change of color and feature. The character of the language of 

 the Navajos is well known. Vocabularies, more or less extensive, have been 

 obtained from time to time by various officers of the army, government agents, 

 and by Mr. Bartlett himself. From these the late Professor Wm. W. Turner 

 demonstrated, long since, its affinity with the great Athapascan or Chepewyan 

 stock, a family occupying the northern part of the continent, next south of the 

 Esquimaux, and extending from the shores of Hudson's bay to those of the 

 Pacific. To this family the Apaches, neighbors of the Navajos, also belong. 

 Mr. Hale, the philologist of the United States exploring expedition, had pre- 

 viously obtained vocabularies of the Tahculli or " Carriers,'' of Praser river, of 

 certain bands near the mouth of the Columbia, and of the Umpquas, to which 

 he gave the collective name of "Ta-ka-li-Um-kwa." These Mr. Gallatin proved 

 to be Athabascan tribes. In 1851 I collected new vocabularies on Rogue river 

 and the Klamath, still further south, which Mr. Tnrner recognized as belonging 

 to the same family. All these form links in the chain connecting the Navajos 

 and Apaches with the parent stock, and show that the migration southward of 

 the Athabascans took place by routes west of the Rocky mountains. 



In fine, the Navajos and Apaches are offshoots of an extreme northern race 

 who have wandered southward, just as the Camanches are a branch of the Sho- 

 shonees or Snakes of Oregon. I have by me vocabularies of almost every tribe 

 of this great family, and can assure you that the verbal similarity is conclusive 

 as to their common origin. But my opinion is not needed in corroboration of 

 that of Turner and of Buschmann. 



As regards the blankets, they are the common pattern of the Mexican "sarape," 

 made, it is true, exceedingly well. 



Very respectfully, your obedient servant. 



From M. M. Lisboa, late Brazilian minister to the United Slates. 



Rio de Janeiro, December 17, 1864. 



My Dear Sir: I did not forget my offer to you, and immediately on my 

 arrival here, in July last, I made application directly to the Emperor for the- 

 remittance of contributions to the Smithsonian Institution, and through his 

 Majesty's gracious intervention I obtained orders which gave me satisfaction, and 

 will, I have no doubt, be agreeable to you also. 



I have since crossed the ocean again, and am just arrived from Europe; this 

 absence has delayed my addressing you this letter. 



The work of Descourtilz is ready to be offered to the institution — that is to- 

 say, the first volume, for the continuation has not yet been published ; and they 

 are preparing at the museum a collection of birds for the same destination. 

 This collection is not complete; but I have taken upon myself to delcare 

 that that was not an objection, as a complete collection can only be made 

 by degrees. 



I have also obtained an order from the Historical and Geographical Institute 

 of Brazil that a set of their three-monthly publication (the Revista) be sent to 

 you. You will find that some of the volumes are missing, because the boxes in 

 which they were kept have been destroyed ; but if thev are reoublished they 

 will be sent to you. 



