668 REPORT— 1898. 



independent pronoun, the selective and the ordinary forms may be dis- 

 tinguished. The pronoun of the transitive verb differs from that of 

 intransitive verbs, the latter being identical with the objective form of 

 the former. In this respect there is a close analogy between the Haida 

 and Tlingit, and the Siouan languages. 



The Tsimshian presents an entirely different type of language. We 

 tind a plural based largely on reduplication. The pronouns are suffixed 

 to the verb. Words are formed almost exclusively by means of prefixes. 

 The system of numerals is veiy complex, as there are different sets of 

 numerals for various classes of objects. 



The southern group of languages — the Kwakiutl, Salish, and Chemakum 

 (which last is spoken in the northern part of the State of Washington) — 

 have a series of very peculiar traits in common. Most prominent among 

 these is the occurrence of what Trumbull has called ' substantival s,' which 

 ]:'lay so important a part in the Algonkin languages. Such are, primarily, 

 parts of the body ; furthermore, designations of localities, of fire, water, 

 road, blanket, domesticated animals (i.e., in olden times, the dog), and 

 many others. These substantivals do ]:ot occur in any other northern 

 language, and must be considered one of the most important character- 

 istics of the languages in question. All these languages use reduplication 

 and diaeresis for forming collective forms and plurals of verbs. The 

 demonstrative pronoun is used very extensively, and serves for distin- 

 guishing locations of object or action according to the three forms of the 

 personal pronoun ; namely, such as are located near the first, second, or 

 third person. Besides these, a great many locative suffixes are used. 

 AVhenever an adverb accompanies the \erb, the former is inflected, while 

 the verb remains unchanged. When a transitive verb is accompanied by 

 an adverb, the latter always takes the suffix of the pronominal subject, 

 while the verb takes that of the pronominal object. 



The Kootenay presents still another type of language. It incorporates 

 the object in the same way as the Mexican does, the noun itself being 

 embodied in the verb. It has very few substantivals, if any, but forms 

 compounds by verbal composition, like the Tinneh (Athapascan) and 

 Siouan. While in the preceding class we find, for instance, compounds 

 expressing states of the hand, of water, lire, &c., we find here compound.^? 

 expressing actions done with the hand, the foot, or other instrument- 

 alities ; and in the water, the fire, or in other localities. It seems that 

 there is no reduplication. 



It is worth remarking that these types of language are characterised 

 by a few very general features that they have in common, and that dis- 

 tinguish them from the other groups that are found in contiguous areas. 

 The Haida and Tsimshian are spoken in the extreme north ; the Kwakiutl, 

 Salish, Chemakum, in the whole southern portion of the Province, and 

 they adjoin the Algonkin, with whom they have a few peculiarities in 

 common. The Kootenay is not far separated from the Shoshonean 

 languages, which resemble it in several particulars. We may therefore 

 well say that the languages of the North Pacific coast belong to se^•eral 

 morphological groups, each of which occupies a continuous ai-ea. 



The investigation of the physical characteristics of the Indians of 

 British Columbia has resulted in establishing the fact that the people are 

 by no means homogeneous. As compared to the Indians east of the 

 llocky Mountains and farther south, they have in common a lighter com- 

 plexion and lighter hair ; but the shapes of their heads and faces differ 



i 



