ABSTRACT
The malll object, therefore, that should today occupy the attention and zeal of a truly philosophical traveller would be the careful gathering of all nleans that might assist him to penetrate tlle thought of the peoples among whom he would be situated, and to accoullt for the order of their actions and relationships. This is not only because such study is in itself the most inlportant of all, it is also because it ll1ust stand as a necessary preliminary alld introductioll to all the others. It is a delusioll to suppose that one can properly observe a people whonl one calmot understand and with whonl one cannot converse. The first means to the proper knowledge of the Savages, is to become after a fashion like one of dIem; and it is by learning tlleir language that we shall become their fellow citizens.
