No preliminary is more necessary for this question than the distinction between _a_, the American languages as considered in respect to their roots or words, and _b_, the American languages as considered in respect to their grammatical structure. The clear perception of this is required on the part of the reader. On the other hand, the writer must remember that he is composing a work not on philology in general, but only upon such points of that science as illustrate ethnography. Hence the peculiarities of the American languages will not be considered in full; but all that will be done with them will consist in the selection of those phænomena which explain what has already been called the philological paradox of the American grammars being alike, whilst the American vocabularies differ. 1. And first in respect to the facts which account for the difference between the vocabularies. Here arise two questions--the determination of the extent to which such a difference really takes place, and the reasons for its reaching that extent whatever it is ascertained to be. What follows, is a table representing the degree in which languages lying within so small a geographical area as the Uché, Natchez, and Adahi, may differ in their vocabularies. ENGLISH. UCHÉ. NATCHEZ. ADAHI. Man cohwita tomkuhpena haasing. Woman wauhnehung tahmahl quaechuke. Father chitung abishnisha kewanick. Mother kitchunghaing kwalneshoo amanie. Son tesunung (my) akwalnesuta tallehennie. Daughter teyunung (my) mahnoonoo quolasinic. Head ptseotan tomne apoo tochake. Hair ptsasong etene calatuck. Ear cohchipah ipok calat. Eye cohchee oktool analca. Nose cohtemee shamats weecoocat. Mouth teaishhee heche wacatcholak. Tongue cootincah itsuk tenanat. Tooth tekeing int awat (pl.) Hand keanthah ispeshe secut Feet tetethah hatpeshé (sing.) nocat (sing.) Blood wace itsh pchack. Sky houpoung nasookta ganick. Sun ptso wah (fire) naleen. Moon shafah kwasip nachaoat. Star yung tookul otat. Day uckkah wit nestach. Night pahto toowa arestenet. Fire yachtah wah nang. Water tsach koon holcut. Rain chaāh nasnayobik ganic.