In consequence of the death Of the author in 1883, the copy furnished by him for the present volume was left in such a shape that some editing was necessary before it could be sent to the printer. By order of the Director of the Bureau of Ethnology, the editorship Of the manuscript was committed to me. I was requested also to prepare the table of contents and index, and to see that the arrangement of the chapters, headings, etc., conformed to the general plan of the publications issued by this Bureau.