Observations on the Language of Signs. S49) 
in MS. with some additions, and as the subject is both cu- 
rious and useful, we do not hesitate to insert it notwith- 
standing it has already appeared ek abi in a weekly 
Journal.*—Ep. 
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Lyceum : 
In compliance with the duty, which you have assigned 
to me for this evening, I was about to continue the inquiry 
in relation to that class of animals, a Zoophytes, which _ 
I commenced ata former meeting ; but as my attention 
has been forcibly arrested by that part of Major J.ong’s 
expedition to the Rocky mountains, which treats of the 
language of signs employed by the aborigines of our wes- 
tern territory, | beg you will indulge me in some observa- 
tions on a subject which may appear foreign to the objects 
of the Lyceum of Natural History. It may, however, be 
considered as a branch of Anthropology, and accordingly 
within the purviews of the society 5 ; and if we adopt the 
maxim, 
«© Nil humani a me alienum puto,”’ 
then I shall not be accused of travelling out of the record, 
where there are so many other topics connected with the 
natural sciences demanding the attention of its votaries. 
The elucidation of a sign language is peculiarly attrac- 
ting to me, as connected with the interest of the institution 
in this city, for the instruction of the Deaf and Dumb, 
over which I have a superintending care. I therefore 
hope to fix your attention for a few minutes ona subject 
which, although novel in this society, may be made agree- 
able, and, I hope, interesting to its members. 
The Indians, Tartars, or Aboriginal inhabitants of the 
country, west of the Mississippi, consist of different nations 
or tribes, speaking several different languages or dialects 
of the same language. Some of these tribes have station- 
ary villages or settlements, while others wander about the 
country, resting in their skin tents or lodges, and following 
the herds of bisons or buffaloes, upon which they principal- 
ly depend for support. These tribes are not able to hold 
* The New-York Minerva. 
