PREFACE 
The material contained in the following pages was collected partly 
in connection with the work of the Jesup North Pacific Expedition, 
partly after the close of the expedition, largely with funds provided 
by friends interested in the scientific work of the Department of 
Anthropology in Columbia University. 
After working with me in 1893, 1897, and 1900, during which time 
he gained much practice in writing the Kwakiutl language, Mr. Hunt 
spent several weeks in New York in 1901. During this time the gen- 
eral plan of work was decided upon, and, following instructions and 
questions sent out by me, Mr. Hunt recorded data relating to the 
material culture, the social life, customs, and beliefs of the Kwakiutl 
Indians. So far as accuracy and contents are concerned, he is re- 
sponsible for the material contained in this book. It will be noticed 
that a number of data have been recorded several times, generally 
at intervals of several years, and the agreement of the statements 
is a guaranty of the accuracy of the record. Much of the information 
in regard to cookery was obtained by Mr. Hunt from Mrs. Hunt, 
who was born in Fort Rupert, and who was thoroughly familiar with 
the duties of a good housewife. In 1900 I had the opportunity of 
obtaining a considerable amount of information from her, which will 
be recorded in a general ethnological discussion of the material con- 
tained in these volumes. 
I have classified the material according to contents, an undertaking 
which has sometimes led to the necessity of breaking up a record 
containing data relating to material culture, customs, and beliefs. 
Mr. Hunt has taken pains to make his descriptions as accurate as 
possible. This procedure has given rise to a certain amount of 
repetition that could not be eliminated by the editor. 
The order in which the material contained in the present volume 
was written by Mr. Hunt is indicated in the critical remarks at the 
end of Part 2 of this work. 
In accordance with the rules laid down in the report on tran- 
scribing American languages, adopted by a committee of the American 
Anthropological Association and printed by the Smithsonian Insti- 
tution, I have adhered to the alphabet used in the previous publica- 
tions on the Kwakiutl. 
Franz Boas. 
November, 1916. 
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