ADVERTISEMENT. 



THE following description of the contents of a burial cave, discovered in the 

 Aleutian Islands, and generously presented to the National Museum by the 

 Alaska Commercial Company of California, has been prepared by the author at 

 the request of the Smithsonian Institution. It is believed that the record of all 

 the facts in regard to this collection will have an especial value, from the proba 

 bility that these remains are not likely to be duplicated, and, even in the region 

 from which they come, were, at the time of their collection, unique in the 

 excellent state of their preservation. With this account of them the author has 

 incorporated such notes, derived from his observation and experience among the 

 Aleuts and other people of kindred stock, as might serve to explain doubtful 

 questions in regard to the objects collected, or their uses or modes of manu 

 facture ; much of which he believes to be now recorded for the first time, and 

 which may prove of value to ethnological science. 



JOSEPH HENRY, 



Secretary S. I. 

 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 



Washington, D. ., January, 1876. 



