Kinship. 155 



tlie co-operation of the various missionary societies/'which," 

 lie remarks, " was cordially promised, and the promise 

 amply redeemed." The Smithsonian Institution also and the 

 Department of State gave him their aid, and his printed 

 circulars went forth fortified by letters of commendation to 

 men of science from the former ; and to the various consular 

 agents of the United States, from the latter. Those who, 

 pei'haps naturally enough, turn a deaf ear to the most urgent 

 entreaties of a private individual, are often willing to lend 

 their aid at the bidding of a great literary association, or of 

 men in high position, whence in a few years Mr. Morgan 

 found that he had abundant materials to his hand. He 

 himself was the most diligent worker of all ; and by 

 personal investigation discovered the Iroquois system 

 among upwards of seventy North American Indian 

 nations, speaking as many different dialects. Besides 

 these, his extended inquiries through his foreign 

 correspondents furnished him with the systems of 

 many tribes in Europe, Asia (where the system was 

 found to prevail among all the Tamil and Telugu tribes, 

 numbering near thirty millions). Central Africa, and 

 the Pacific Islands. The results of these researches were 

 tabulated by him, and published last year by the Smiths- 

 onian Institution in a large quarto volume of some 600 

 pages ; a copy of which was sent to me several months ago, 

 but I grieve to say that, through some untoward mishap, it 

 has not yet reached me. 



About three years ago, I being then in Fiji, Professor 

 Goldwin Smith sent me one of Mr. Morgan's circulars and 

 blank schedules, with a request that I would write down 

 therein the Fijian system, which the United States Consul for 

 Fiji had neglected to furnish, although requested to do so by 

 General Cass of the Department of State. In reading over 

 Mr. Morgan's circular, I was astounded to find that the 

 characteristics of the system were set forth by him in the 

 very words which one would use in describing those of the 

 Fijian. So startling, indeed, were the facts disclosed, that 

 before I got to the end of the circular, I actually turned the- 

 page over again, to assure myself by looking at the pre- 

 liminary remarks, that I was not reading an account of the 

 Fijian system. " Here," said I, " is something worth 

 inquiring into. Similarities of language and customs may 

 lead us into endless mistakes and bewilderment ; but the 

 fact of an intricate system, such as this, being found among 



