xxxviii Circular Letter. 



4. To inquire into the Cuftoms, Manners, Languages 

 and Charader of the Indian nations,, ancient and modern, 

 and their migrations. 



The importance of thefe objefts wilhbe acknowledged 

 by every Lover of Science, and, we truft, fufEciently apo- 

 logize lor thus troubling you : for without the aid of gen- 

 tlemen who have tafte and opportunity for fuch refearches, 

 our means would be very confined. We therefore folicit 

 your communications, now or in future, on thefe fubj efts ; 

 which will be at all times thankfully received, and duly 

 noticed in the publications of the Society. 



As to the firft objedl, the committee fuggeft to Gentle- 

 men who may be in the way of inquiries of that kind, 

 that the Great Bone Lick on the Ohio, and other places 

 where there may be mineral fait, are the moft eligible fpots 

 for the purpofe ; becaufe animals are known to refort to 

 iuch places. 



With refpe£t to the fecond head, the committee are de- 

 firous that cuts in various directions may be made into 

 many of the Tumuli, to afcertain their contents; while 

 the diameter of the largefl: tree growing thereon, the num- 

 ber of its annulars and the fpecies of the tree, may tend to 

 give fome idea of their antiquity. If the works fliould be 

 found to be of Mafonry ; the length, breadth, and height 

 of the walls ought to be carefully meafured, the form and 

 nature of the ftones defcribed, and fpecimens of both the 

 cement and ftones fcnt to the committee. 



The bcft methods of obtaining information on the other 

 fubjedls will naturally fuggeft themfelves to you ; and we 

 rely on a difpofition favourable to our wifhes. 



The 



