the signs themselves — tliat is, of motions and positions of the same diaracter apart 

 from tlieir individnal significanee in any oral speech. 



The hearty thanks of this Bnrean are rendered to all its collaborators, and will iu 

 futnre be presented in a manner more worthy of them. It i-emains to give to them an 

 explanation of the mode in which a large collection of signs has been made in Wash- 

 ington. Fortnnately for this undertaking, the jwlicy of the government has brought 

 here, during the last winter and spring, delegations, sometimes quite large, of most of 

 the important tribes. Thus the most intelligent of the race from the most distant and 

 farthest separated localities were here in considerable numbers for weeks, and indeed, 

 iu some cases, months, and, together with their interi)reters and agents, were, by the 

 considerate order of the honorable Secretary of the Interior, placed at the disposal of 

 this Bureau for all purposes of gatlieriug ethnologic information. The facilities thus 

 obtained were much greater than coidd have been enjoyed by a large number of observ- 

 ers traveling for a long time over the continent for the same exjjress purpose. The 

 observations relating to signs were all made here by the same persons, according to a 

 uniform method, in which the gestures were obtained directly from the Indians, and 

 their meaning (often in itself clear from the context of signs before known) was trans- 

 lated sometimes through the medium of English or Spanish, or an aboriginal language 

 known in common by some one or more of the Indians and by some one of the observ- 

 ers. When an interpreter was employed, he translated the words used by an Indian, 

 and was not relied upon to explain the signs according to his own ideas. Such transla- 

 tions and a description of minute and rapidly-executed signs, dictated at the moment 

 of their exhibition, were sometimes taken down by a phonographer, that there might 

 be no lapse of memory in any particular, and in many cases the signs were made in 

 successive motions before the camera, and prints secured as certain evidence of their 

 accuracy. jS'ot only were more than one hundred Indians thus examined individually, 

 at leisure, but, on occasions, several of dillerent tribes, who had never before met each 

 other, were examined at the same time, both by inciuiry of individuals whose answers 

 were consulted upon by all the Indians present, and also by inducing several of the 

 Indians to engage in talk and storytelling in signs between themselves. Thus it was 

 possible to notice the difference in the signs made for the same objects and the degree 

 of mutual comprehension notwithstanding such differences. Similar studies were made 

 by taking the Indians to the National Deaf Mute College and bringing them in contact 

 with the puitils. 



By far the greater part of the actual work of the observation and record of the 

 signs obtained at Washington has been ably performed by Dr. W. J. Hoffman, the 

 assistant of the present editor. Dr. Hoffman acquired in the West, through his service 

 as acting assistant surgeon. United States Army, at a large reservation, the indispen- 

 sable advantage of becoming acquainted with the Indian character so as to conduct 

 such researches as that iu question, and in addition has the eye and pencil of an artist, 

 so that he catches readily, describes with physiological accuracy, and reproduces in 

 action and in permanent illustration all shades of gesture exhibited. It is therefore 

 believed that the collection made here will be valuable for comparison with and to 

 supplement those obtained during the same months in the field. 



I remain, with renewed otlicial and personal thanks and much regard, 

 Sincerely your friend, 



GAKEICK MALLERY. 



