402 United States Exploring Expedition. 



on this confined space, thus scantily endowed by nature, was 

 found a dense population of more than sixty thousand souls, in a 

 state not inferior, as regards civilization, to any of the other islands 

 of the Pacific. It is obvious that the character and customs of this 

 people, as modified by their peculiar condition, must have present- 

 ed much that was novel and striking. By the aid of two sailors 

 who were fortunately found living on these islands — one of whom 

 had been detained there five years without an opportunity of es- 

 caping — these points were minutely examined, the relations of 

 the language determined, and the probable origin of the natives 

 ascertained. 



Iti the territory of Oregon, vocabularies have been obtained of 

 twenty six languages belonging to thirteen distinct families — a 

 surprising and unexampled number to be found in so small a 

 space. In general, where a multitude of unrelated idioms have 

 been believed to exist, more careful researches, by discovering 

 resemblances and affinities before unperceived, have greatly re- 

 duced the number. On the northwest coast of America, how- 

 ever, this rule does not hold good, and careful investigation, 

 instead of diminishing, has actually increased the number of lan- 

 guages between which no connection can be proved. On the 

 other hand, traces of affinity have been discovered where none 

 were supposed to exist; and it is worthy of note, that one family 

 of languages has been found extending from the vicinity of 

 Bheering's Straits to some distance south of the Columbia River. 



At Singapore, the expedition procured from an American mis- 

 sionary there resident, a collection made by him with great pains 

 and at considerable expense, of valuable Malay and Bugis manu- 

 scripts, relating to the history, mythology, laws, and customs of 

 the East India islands. Since the loss of the splendid collection 

 of Sir Stamford Raffles, which was burned along with the vessel 

 in which it had been shipped for England, this is believed to be 

 the best in existence. It is likely to be of great service hereafter, 

 not less to the historian, than the philologist. 



The birds of the expedition already make a fine display in the 

 National Gallery, although but two thirds are yet arranged. In 

 all there are about a thousand species collected, and double that 

 number of specimens. Contrary to expectation, many of the 

 birds of Oceania were found to have a very limited range. Some 

 of the groups have species peculiar to themselves, and several 



