ANTHROPOLOGY— DORSEY, JONES. 53 



ANTHROPOLOGY. 



Dorsey, Georg^e A., Field Columbian Museum. Chicago, Illinois. 



Grant No. 228. hivestigation among the tribes of the Caddoan stock. 



(For previous reports see Year Book No. 2, p. xv, and Year Book 



No. 3, p. 83.) $3,000. 



Abstract oj Report. — The work done in investigating the tribes of 

 the Caddoan stock is the third of a plan for four years of consecutive 

 and systematic investigation. The investigation of the mythology 

 of the tribes will be completed this year, and there will be available 

 in print the mythology of the Skidi Pawnee, the I^awnee in general, 

 the Caddo, the Wichita, and the Arikara. Observations on many 

 additional ceremonies have been made, and a large number of new 

 rituals have been obtained, together with much additional informa- 

 tion about rituals and ceremonies previously observed. 



Jones, William, American Museum of Natural History, New York, 

 New York. Grant No. 283. Investigationof the religion of the Cen- 

 tral Algonkm /ndia7is. (Continuation of Grant No. 173. ) $1 ,000. 



The work of the past year was confined mainly to the Ojibwas, 

 the largest tribe in the Central Algonkin group. The field of the 

 work was among the Ojibwas of the north shore of Lake Superior, 

 on Rainy River, and at various places in northern Minnesota. 

 Myths and traditions were collected and religious ceremonies were 

 observed. In view of the fact that the problem is essentially psy- 

 chological, an effort was made to obtain as much religious lore as 

 possible in the native language itself. The method serves two pur- 

 poses : In one it reveals the nature of Ojibwa thought and makes 

 clear the psychological basis of Ojibwa religion ; in the other it fur- 

 nishes a store of linguistic material on a side of the language that 

 is fast falling out of use. Beast fable is the predominating charac- 

 teristic of Ojibwa myths. The mythology is rich with characters of 

 supernatural attributes, but the system of its philosophy is incon- 

 sistent. Of the religious rites and ceremonies, an esoteric society 

 called the Midewiwin was selected for particular study. It stands 

 out in marked relief from all the other observances by virtue mainly 

 of its concern with life after death. Its practices give a definite con- 

 ception of the belief in a disembodied spirit and foster the hope of 

 immortality in the spirit world. Its priests act as media between 

 individuals and unseen powers, and their intercession is in turn con- 

 nected with the office of sacrifice. Its ceremonies are conducted 

 with ritual. The results of the work among the Ojibwas will, it is 

 expected, be in manuscript some time during 1906. 



