SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION-BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY

J. W. POWELL DIRECTOR

PROOF-SHEETS

OF A

BIBLIOGRAPHY

OF

THE LANGUAGES

OF THE

NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS

BY

JAMES CONSTANTINE PILLING

59

(DISTRIBUTED ONLY TO COLLABORATORS)

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

PB

P64

This is an exact photographic facsimile of Pilling's PROOF-SHEETS OF A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE LANGUAGES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS as printed by the Smithsonian Institution in 1885. Its official designation is BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY, MISCELLANEOUS

PUBLICATION NO. 2.

The original edition of 100 copies was "Distributed Only to Collaborators."

Of this edition 750 numbered copies have been printed.

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION,

BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY,
December 7, 1884.

While engaged in the exploration of the Rocky Mountains I was urgently requested by the late Professor Henry, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, to study the Indian tribes of the region, and espe cially to collect vocabularies. In compliance with this request I culti vated an acquaintance with the various Indian tribes met in that region, and usually a number of Indians traveled with me. I eventually became deeply interested in the study of the Indian languages of the United States, which interest increased as comparative studies were subsequently made.

From these rude beginnings I was led to explore a much wider field, and at last formed the plan of completing the classification of these languages, and especially of extricating the subject from much bibliographic confusion. During this time Mr. Pilling assisted me in collecting the literature of the subject, and at my request he undertook to prepare a bibliography of the materials I was then using. But from year to year his work grew on his hands, until at last, at my earnest solicitation, he commenced the preparation of a bibliography of North American languages. To this task he has given the patient labor of years, and developed a genius for the work to which the present volume is a monument.

J. W. POWELL.

PREFACE.

The compilation of the following matter was begun some years since as a card-catalogue for the use of the members of the Bureau of Ethnology, and as a basis for a projected work by the Director on the classification of North American tribes by language. Although prosecuted only during such times as could be spared from other and more pressing official duties, and at first with no thought of making it comprehensive, material accumulated in sufficient quantity to justify the belief that a somewhat complete monograph of the subject might be compiled. To accomplish this the co-operation of many persons interested in this branch of research is necessary; and that this co-operation may be given to the best advantage it is essential they should know what has already been done. Hence the following proof-sheets-a preliminary, tentative, and incomplete catalogue, embodying the information gathered by the compiler from printed and manuscript authorities, by personal visits to public and private libraries throughout the United States and Canada, and by an extensive correspondence. The amount of material already obtained through outside sources during the type-setting and proof-reading, and which partly appears in the appended “Additions and Corrections," strengthens the belief that, with the assistance of those in a position to furnish information, it will be possible to make the final issue a fairly complete record of the books, pamphlets, papers in serial journals, and manuscripts, in or relating to the Indian languages of North America.

It is desired that those into whose hands these sheets may fall will consider them in no sense as finished or complete; only a few copies are struck off, and these have been prepared especially for distribution to collaborators for the purpose of obtaining marginal corrections and insertions.

When finally issued the work will form Volume X of the series entitled "Contributions to North American Ethnology."

Nowhere else, perhaps, is there such opportunity for error as between the two covers of a catalogue, and no one can be more fully aware of the many defects and inconsistencies in this one than the compiler. Nor can they be excused except on the general plea that it was thought preferable to insert imperfect titles, and to insert them out of order, than not to have them appear at all. Bad titles may be the means of procuring good ones, and consistency of arrangement can be secured in the final sheets, or the defect partly atoned for by a cross-reference. The aim of the compiler has been to record everything pertaining to the subject which has come under his notice.