iv 
PEEFACE. 
native races* of distant poasessions, wbicK but too often 
lead to desolating and expensive ^vars, may be best 
avoided; — and although it is not intended at present 
to enter very deeply into the subject of philology, 
students of that important branch of Etbnogi-aphical 
Science may find their labours materially lightened by 
the issue of a series, to which they can refer for in- 
formation respecting the geographical position, and social 
peculiarities, of tribes whose dialects may be under 
examination. 
AVGvwt 25, 1853. 
