LANGUAGE. The first attempt at classifying the North American languages was made by Al bert Gallatin in 1836, the relationships being established chiefly by a comparison of word roots. The beginning of regular systematic research dates from the establishment of the BUreau of Ethnology, under Major J. W. Powell. in 1879. The number of linguistic stocks north of Mexico, ns at present recognized by the bureau, is 57, as given below, hut it is probable that more ex tended study will reduce this number by disclos ing affinities as yet undiscovered.
Algonquian Keresan Shoshonean Athapascan Kiowan Siouan Attacapan Kit unahan Skit t agetan Beothukan Kolusehan Takilman ('addoan Kulanapan Taiman Chimakuan KUS3I1 Timuquanan Chimarikan Lutuamian Tonikan Chimmesyan Mariposan Tonkawan Chinookan Moquelumnan Uchean Chitimachan Muskhogean Waiilatpuan Chumashan Nat chesan Wakashan Coahuiltecan Palaihnihan Washoan Copehan Piman Welt spekan Cost afioan Pujunan Wishoskan Eskimauan Quoratean Yakonan Esselenian Sal i nan Yanan Iroquoian Salishan Yukian Kalapooian Sastean Yuman Karankawan Shahaptian Zuuisn The necessity for some common means of in tercommunication was supplied by trade jar gons, chief of which were the ':\lobilian lan guage.' and the Chinook jargon, and by the sign
language on the plains. Some tribes had made fairly successful attempts at recording their his tory and mythic. traditions by means of picto graphs. Of these the best-known are the Walam Olum of the Delaware, and the Kiowa calendars. Intertribal compacts were commemorated among the Eastern tribes by means of symbolic wampum belts. The Cherokee alone had a literature re corded in an alphabet of their own invention.