160 APPENDIX. . 
sion of desire by the Committee that all shall endeavour to 
secure for the expedition whatever in any department they 
esteem valuable; it being expressly understood that every 
article collected by each individual belongs in property to 
the subscribers to the expedition collectively. 
In regard to the inhabitants themselves, it is of para- 
mount interest to gain an exact portrait of their life, as 
respects their condition, arts, and policy; their language, 
their external appearance, population, origin, and relation to 
other tribes; or, in general, whatever tends to elucidate their 
disposition or resources as sharers or agents in commerce, 
or their preparation to receive Christianity. 
It will be proper to ascertain their religious traditions or 
practices, if they have any, distinguishing what is indige- 
nous from the glimmering apprehension of great religious 
truths, which necessarily spreads in advance of the scenes 
of Missionary labour. 
Examine also the state of their intellect generally, as 
exemplified in their social and political arrangements and 
common traditions, songs, and amusements, and particularly 
in regard to their knowledge of nature, and their notions of 
its vast and varied proceedings, as thunder, rain, wind, &c. 
Inquiries respecting commerce and the prospect of. its 
extension are to be viewed as of no small importance in this 
undertaking. Every means must be used to ascertain its 
present nature, channels, and extent, and to determine the 
existing demand for foreign commodities, and the returns 
which may be expected for them. Proper inquiries may 
also lead to some satisfactory views of its future condition, as 
indicated by the wants of the native population, or the objects 
of most importance to improve their condition, and the cor- 
responding resources for exchange which may arise from a 
more beneficial employment of their industry. . 
