NORTHWESTERN AMERICA. 225 



it became apparent that the languages spoken by the Kwalhioqua, a 

 small band who live in the wooded country north of the Columbia, 

 the Tlatskanai, a similar tribe south of that river, and the Umquas, 

 in latitude 43 N., must all be referred to the same widely-extended 

 family. 



The hypothesis which is offered in explanation of these facts, must, 

 of course, be considered as a mere speculation, until it shall be con- 

 firmed by the discovery of a resemblance between the languages of 

 Oregon (or some one of them) and those of Mexico. The latter are 

 known to be numerous, and about twenty have been reduced to 

 writing by the Catholic missionaries. Of the grammars and dic- 

 tionaries which they have composed, several have been printed, but 

 the greater number are still in manuscript. Many of the latter are 

 preserved in Europe, either in public libraries, or in private collec- 

 tions. Our own materials for comparison are limited to a few pub- 

 lished works, in six of the principal idioms, between which and the 

 languages of Oregon, no similarity is apparent. This result, however, 

 need not discourage any one from pursuing the investigation with 

 regard to the remaining tongues, especially those spoken in the north 

 of Mexico. It is to be hoped that future inquirers, with better oppor- 

 tunities, and more extensive materials, may be able to arrive at some 

 definite conclusion on this point, which must be considered as one 

 of the most interesting questions connected with the history of the 

 aboriginal races on this continent. 



57 



