OF THE HUMAN FAMILY. 193 



tained. If identity of system proves unity of origin, all of the Indian nations 

 thus far named are of one blood. In addition to this general conclusion some 

 evidence may be gained through the deviations from uniformity wliich it con- 

 tains concerning the order of separation of these stock languages from each 

 other or from the parent stem. 



It has been seen from the comparative vocabulary, supra, that the Crow and 

 Minnitaree dialects contain a number of words for common objects which are 

 also found in the Mandan, the Dakota, and the ]\Iissouri dialects. A comparison 

 of two hundred words, in unpublished vocabularies of the author, shows about 

 twenty per centum which are common between the Minnitaree and Crow, and one 

 or more of the remaining dialects. In the terms of relationship, which are words 

 of a higher class, the percentage is less. This agreement, however, is perhaps 

 sufficient to justify the classification of all these dialects in the same stock lan- 

 guage. On the other hand, there are striking peculiarities in the system of rela- 

 tionship of the first two nations which are not found in that of the remaining 

 nations, but which reappear in the system of the Gulf and Prairie nations. It is 

 found in the relationship between the children of a brother and sister, which, as a 

 variable, is not a radical portion of the system. Where nations of immediate blood 

 affinity, as the Dakota and IMissouri nations, are found to differ among themselves 

 upon these relationships, it would be certain that one or the other had modified 

 their system in this respect ; and if one, then both may have done the same. It 

 becomes necessary, then, to compare these forms and ascertain which is the highest 

 and most perfect; and when that fact is determined, the inference arises that 

 the rudest and least perfect is the oldest form. Among the Dakota they are 

 cousin and cousin, among the Winnebagoes and Missouri nations they are uncle 

 and nephew if males, and mother and daughter, if females. There can be no doubt 

 that the former is the most perfect form, and that of the two the latter as the 

 rudest is nearest to the primitive. The inference, therefore, is unavoidable, that 

 the Dakota nations modified their system in this respect. If we now compare the 

 oldest of the two forms with that which now prevails among the Minnitarees, 

 Crows, Creeks, Choctas, Chickasas and Cherokees, and also with that of the Prairie 

 nations, not yet presented, it will be seen that the form of the latter is ruder still, 

 and presumptively older than either. They are son and father if males, and grand- 

 daughter and grandmother if females. If this conclusion is well taken, it will 

 follow that it was the original form, as to those relationships which prevailed in 

 the parent nation from which these several stocks or branches were mediately or 

 immediately derived, and that aU of them, except the Mandan, the Winnebago, 

 the Dakota and the Missouri nations have retained it until the present time. 

 And finally that the excepted nations modified it from the first or original to the 

 second form, after which it was raised to the third and most perfect by the Dakota 

 and Hodenosaunian nations alone, in this stem of the Ganowanian family. A 

 critical examination of all the forms of the system of relationship will show that 

 its development is under the control of principles within itself; and that the direc- 

 tion of the change when attempted, was predetermined by the elements of the 

 system. We are yet to meet the second and third forms, as to these relationships, 



25 March, 1870. 



