Mr. Henry R. Schoolcraft, while engaged in the preparation of his
work--"Information respecting the History, Condition, and Prospects of
the Indian Tribes of the United States"--sent to various persons
residing among the Indians a "Comparative Vocabulary of the Languages of
the Indian Tribes of the United States," a quarto paper of 25 pages,
comprising 350 words, and the numerals one to one billion. The returns
from this were for the most part incorporated in his work; a few,
however, found their way into the collection of the Smithsonian
Institution.

In 1853-'54, Mr. George Gibbs, while engaged under Gov. Isaac I. Stevens
in "Explorations for a route for the Pacific Railroad near the 47th and
49th parallels of north latitude," became interested in the study of the
languages of the Indians inhabiting the Northwest, and collected many
vocabularies. To further extend this work, he prepared and had printed a
folio paper of three leaves entitled "A vocabulary of 180 words which it
is desired to collect in the different languages and dialects throughout
the Pacific Coast for publication by the Smithsonian Institute at
Washington."

These were sent to such persons as, in his judgment, were competent to
furnish the material desired, and many of them, filled or partly filled,
were returned to him. A second edition of this vocabulary, 6 ll., folio,
was issued.

In 1863 there was published by the Smithsonian Institution a pamphlet
with the following title: