628 REPORT— 1898. 



The North-Western Tribes of Canada. — Twelfth and Final Report of 

 the Committee, consisting of Professor E. B. Tylor (Chaii'man), Sir 

 CuTHBERT E. Peek (Secretary), Dr. G. M. Dawson, Mr. R. G. 

 Haliburton, Mr. David Boyle, and Hon. G. W. Ross, appointed 

 to investigate the Physical Cha/racters, Languages, and Industrial 

 and Social Conditions of the North-Western Tribes of the Dominion 

 of Canada. 



PAGE 



I. Physical Clw/ractoristics of the Tribes of British Colnmbia, hy Feanz Boas 



and Livingston Faekand 628 



II. TJie Chilcotin, by Livingston Fakeand 645 



III. The Social Organisation of the Haida, by Feanz Boas .... 648 



IV. Linguistics, by Feanz Boas 654 



V. Summwry of the Work of the Committee in British Colnmbia, by Feanz Boas 667 



Appendix.— Zw^^cr to Reports, IV.-XII 684 



The following Report contains the results of field-work undertaken under 

 the auspices of the Committee during the summer of 1897. The work was 

 carried out by Messrs. Franz Boas and Livingston Farrand. A brief 

 summary of the results of the work of the Committee has been drawn up 

 by Dr. Boas, and forms part of this Report. 



While the work of the Committee has materially advanced our know- 

 ledge of the tribes of British Columbia, the field of investigation is by no 

 means exhausted. The languages are known only in outline. More 

 detailed information on the physical types may clear up several points 

 that have remained obscure, and a more detailed knowledge of the 

 ethnology of the northern tribes seems desirable. Ethnological evidence 

 has been collected bearing upon the history of development of the 

 culture-area under consideration ; but no archfeological investigations 

 have been carried on which would help materially in solving these 

 problems. 



For these reasons it is a matter of congratulation to know that the 

 ethnological investigation in British Columbia will not cease with the 

 operations inaugurated by the Committee. Ethnological and archaeo- 

 logical work in the Province, in the adjoining States and Territories of the 

 United States, and on the coast of Siberia is being carried on by expedi- 

 tions the expense of which is borne by Mr. Morris K. Jesup, President 

 of the American Museum of Natural History. It is hoped that these 

 investigations may carry the work initiated by this Committee a step 

 farther. 



I. Physical Characteristics of the Tribes of British Columbia. 

 By Franz Boas and Livingston Farrand. 



The anthropometric measurements made during the season of 1 897 were 

 carried out by both of us according to the system applied in the previous 

 Reports of the Committee. Before entering into a discussion of the results, 

 it is necessary to show that the measurements of the two observers are 

 comparable. We have carried out this comparison for the head measure- 

 ments in which the personal equation is liable to attain considerable value. 



