13 



tions are met, it will be difficult to make any use of the scbedule * 

 The principal vowel marks are indicated ; but if others are used 

 either for vowels or consonants, the key to the same should be 

 given. As one of the pronouns my, our, or his, is incorporated, 

 in most languages, with the term of relationship, it is desirable to 

 have these pronouns given in every case, and accordingly a place 

 has been made for them on the schedule. The accented sylla- 

 bles should also be marked. 



Several questions are appended concerning tribal organization, 

 the answers to which will have an important bearing upon the 

 full interpretation of the system of relationship, with which they 

 are intimately connected. A brief explanation of two or three 

 prominent characteristics of a Tribe will conclude this letter. 



Nearly all, if not all, of the Indian Nations upon this continent 

 were anciently subdivided into Tribes or Families. These Tribes, 

 with a few exceptions, were named after animals. Many of them 

 are now thus subdivided. It is so with the Iroquois, Delawares, 

 lowas. Creeks, Mohaves, Wyandottes, Winnebagocs, Otoes, Kaws, 

 Shawnees, Choctaws, Otawas, Ojibewas, Potowottomies, &c. 



The following tribes are known to exist, or to have existed, in 

 the several Indian Nations — the number ranging from three to 

 eighteen in each : The Wolf, Bear, Beaver, Turtle, Deer, Snipe, 

 Heron, Hawk, Crane, Duck, Loon, Turkey, Musk-Rat, Sable, 

 Pike, Cat-Fish, Sturgeon, Carp, Buffalo, Elk, Rein-Deer, Eagle, 

 Hare, Rabbit and Snake; also, the Reed-Grass, Sand, Water, 

 Rock and Tobacco-Plant. 



Among the Iroquois, and the rule is the same to the present 

 day in most of the nations enumerated, no man is allowed to 

 marry a woman of his own tribe, all the members of which are 

 consanguinci. This was unquestionably the ancient law. It fol- 

 lows that husband and wife were always of diflPerent tribes. The 

 children arc of the tribe of the mother, in a majority of the na- 

 tions ; but the rule, if anciently universal, is not so at the present 

 day. Where descent in the female line prevailed, it was followed 

 by several important results, of which the most remarkable was 



*The error in some oases has occurred of translating the questions on 

 the schedule, instead of giving the special term. 



