TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION H. 797 



Pipping and Hermann have Loth given their attention exclusively to the sung 

 vowels. The writer of the memoir at first gave his attention exclusively to the 

 whispered vowels, but has endeavoured, in his published articles on speech-sounds, 

 since the appearance of the other writers' results, to bring his results into touch 

 with theira.' 



The questions about which all three writers are more or less concerned are 

 briefly these : Has each vowel one characteristic tone, or more ? AVhat is this 

 concomitant tone (or concomitant tones) for each vowel ? Is this tone (or are 

 these tones) of variable or constant pitch? Is it (or are they) harmonic, 

 in a sung vowel, to the note which is sung ? Does the resonance (^or do the 

 resonances) of a given vowel remain constant in the same individual through the 

 whole compass of his voice ? If the resonances are plural, have they any fixed 

 relation to each other ? These questions are answered diflferently by all the three 

 writers, who nevertheless present some remarkable points of agreement in this 

 hitherto chaotic branch of knowledge. The writer of the memoir is chiefly con- 

 cerned with the answer to the last of the above-named questions, believing that 

 all the leading vowels are distinguished by the possession of two resonances, not 

 fixed in themselves, but bearing a fixed relation to each other. 



3. Faviily Life of the Haidas (^Queen Charlotte Islaiids). 

 By the Rev. Charles Harrison. 



The Haidas seem to be related from the lowest in rank to the supreme chief of 

 the nation ; but thej' are divided into certain families or crests, and members of the 

 same crest are not allowed to intermarry. 



The houses of the old Haidas are square and built with cedar hewn to 

 the proper proportions with stone adzes or axes, having been erected before iron 

 implements were known to the Haidas. Some of the houses are built over pits, 

 which serve as a protection from dampness, from smoke, and from sudden attacks 

 of enemies. In the centre of the pit is the camp fire, which is kept burning day and 

 night during the winter months ; and around it the Indians sleep and the children 

 play. The Haidas feed twice in the day — early in the morning- and after the 

 day's work is over. They have a great variety of food, and grow turnips, potatoes, 

 and other vegetables, sufficient to last them for the year. 



Queen Charlotte Islands were formerly ruled by a single king, but now each 

 village has its chief, whose rank and authority are transmitted, at his death, to a 

 nephew or some other relative ; but it is impossible according to Haida laws for a 

 son to succeed his father or even to take his name. 



Infants are left much to themselves, but are seldom either bound to a board, or 

 tied up in such a way as to interfere with their movements. 



As soon as a girl reaches puberty her lower lip is pierced, and the orifice is en- 

 larged from time to time, according to her marriage and the number of children she 

 bears, so that it is really a mark of caste. 



Marriage is by purchase, but the choice is limited to members of a certain sept 

 or crest ; thus, the bear must marry an eagle, and the frog must marry a whale. 

 The children always take the crest of their mother. 



There is no difficulty about divorce when man and wife tire of one another. 



The women are very fond of ornaments; the younger ones wear earrings 

 similar to those worn by English ladies, while the ears of the older women are 

 pierced in two or three places, and pieces of bone and wood were formerly inserted 

 and worn continually. Nose-rings are still worn among the Haidas, but only the 

 old Indians have their noses pierced, and the ring is seldom used except when in 

 full dress for the dance or the feast. 



The Haidas are tall and weU-proportioned, and are exceedingly strong. Their 

 intellectual power exceeds that of the ordinary coast Indians. The older men have 

 no hair on their faces, but the younger men endeavour to cultivate whiskers 

 and moustachios in imitation of the whites. 



' See Phonetisclie Studien, vols, iii., iv., and v. 



