30 INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF INDIAN LANGUAGES. 
feature with which the people are familiar, especially the mountains, rocks, 
trees, rivers, falls, springs, lakes, &e. 
§ 15.—GEOGRAPHIC NAMES. 
A very interesting field of investigation is found in learning the proper 
names given by the Indians to the several springs, rivers, lakes, mountains, 
indentations of the coast, &c., known to them. 
§16—THE FIRMAMENT, METEOROLOGIC AND OTHER PHYSICAL PHE- 
NOMENA AND OBJECTS. 
Indians usually have many names for clouds, as they are distinguished 
by color, form, &c. As full a list as possible, with description, should be 
obtained. 
In Indian mythology the stars are personages translated from the 
earth to the firmament. The personages were usually ancient animals, 
sometimes ancient men. Many interesting myths can be found concerning 
these ancient people, and why they were taken from earth to heaven. 
The names of the stars and constellations recognized by the Indians 
should be given. 
Like the stars, the sun and moon are translated personages. In every 
tribe an interesting myth may be found explaining the phases of the moon 
and the dim figures seen therein. The return of the sun and moon from 
west to east always has a mythic explanation. 
§ 17.— KINSHIP. 
Indian society is based on kinship. For this reason the terms used to 
designate kinship are of much greater importance in tribal society than in 
national society. The group of words used to designate persons by their 
degrees of relationship will constitute a valuable contribution to linguistic 
science and at the same time will be of great interest to the student of 
Indian society. 
If we take the relationships which may arise from nine generations in 
lineal descent we find their number to be very great—several thousand in 
all. A language which would attempt to give a distinct name for each par- 
