1883.] 13 [Hale. 
That the Tutelo tongue represents this ‘general language’’ of which 
Beverley speaks—this aboriginal Latin of Virginia—cannot be doubted. 
Tt may, therefore be deemed a language of no small historical impor- 
tance. The fact that this language, which was first obscurely heard of in: 
Virginia two hundred years ago, has been brought to light in our day on 
a far-off Reservation in Canada, and there learned from the lips of the 
latest surviving member of this ancient community, must certainly be 
considered one of the most singular occurrences in the history of science. 
Apart from the mere historical interest of the language, its scientific 
value in American ethnology entitles it to a careful study. As has been 
already said, a comparison of its grammar and vocabulary with those of 
the western Dakota tongues has led to the inference that the Tutelo 
language was the older form of this common speech. This conclusion 
was briefly set forth in some remarks which I had the honor of addressing 
to this Society at the meeting of December 19, 1879, and is recorded in 
the published minutes of the meeting. Some years afterwards, and after 
the earlier portion of this essay was written, I had the pleasure, at the 
meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, held 
in Montreal, in September, 1882, of learning from my friend, the Rev. J. 
Owen Dorsey, of the Smithsonian Institution, who has resided for several 
years as a missionary among the western Dakotas, and has made careful 
researches into their languages and history, that they have a distinct tra- 
dition that their ancestors formerly dwelt east of the Mississippi. In fact, 
the more southern Dakotas declare their tribes to be offshoots of the Win- 
nebagoes, who till recently resided near the western shore of Lake Michi- 
gan. A comparison of their dialects, made with Mr. Dorsey’s aid, fully 
sustains this assertion. Mere traditionary evidence, as is well known, 
sannot always be relied on; but when it corresponds with conclusions 
previously drawn from linguistic evidence, it has a weight which renders 
it a valuable confirmation. 
The portrait of old Nikonha, an accurate photograph, will serve to show, 
better than any description could do, the characteristics of race which dis- 
tinguished his people. The full oval outline of face, and the large features 
of almost European cast, were evidently not individual or family traits, 
as they reappear in the Tutelo half-breeds on the Reserve, who do not 
claim a near relationship to Nikonha. Those who are familiar with the 
Dakotan physiognomy will probably discover a resemblance of type be- 
tween this last representative of the Virginian Tutelos and their congeners, 
the Sioux and Mandans of the western plains. 
THE TUTELO LANGUAGE, 
In the following outline of Tutelo grammar, it has been deemed advis- 
able to bring its forms into comparison with those of the western lan- 
guages of the same stock, For this purpose the Dakota and Hidatsa (or 
Minnetaree) languages were necessarily selected, being the only tongues 
of this family of which any complete account has yet been published, 
