REPORT 



The Regents of the University having made an appropriation for the 

 enlargement of the Indian Collection, and having entrusted the execution 

 of their resolution with the undersigned, he asks leave to submit the 

 following report : 



Within the past century great changes have been wrought among the 

 descendants of the ancient Iroquois. Their primitive fabrics have 

 mostly passed away, and with them many of their original inventions. 

 The substitution of the fabrics of more skillful hands, has led to the 

 gradual disuse of many of their simple arts. At the present moment, 

 therefore, much of the fruit of their inventive capacity is entirely lost. 

 Fragments, indeed, are frequently disentombed from the resting places 

 to which they had been consigned by filial or parental affection; but they 

 are mere vestiges of the past, and afford but a slight indication of their 

 social condition, or of the range of their artisan intellect. It is impos- 

 sible, therefore, at the present day, to make a full collection of the 

 implements, domestic utensils, and miscellaneous fabrics of our Indian 

 predecessors. Many of their inventions are still preserved among their 

 descendants, who yet reside within our limits ; but that portion of them 

 which would especially serve to illustrate the condition of the hunter 

 life, have passed beyond our reach. 



In the present advanced condition of our Indian population, a large 

 proportion of their articles are of a mixed character. They rather ex- 

 hibit the application of Indian ingenuity to fabrics of foreign manufac- 

 ture, as shown in their reduction into use, than originality of invention. 

 But this class of articles are not without a peculiar interest. They 

 furnish no slight indication of artisan capacity, and will make a species 

 of substitute for those articles which they have displaced, and those in- 

 ventions which they have hurried into forgetfulness. 



[Nat. Hist.] 5 



