20 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



BUEEAU OF ETHNOLOGY. 



The i)rosecution of etlinologic researches among the North American 

 Indians, under the direction of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution and in compliance with acts of Congress, was continued during the 

 year 1886-'87, under the charge of Maj. J. W. Powell, who has furnished 

 the following account of operations. 



The work of the year may be conveniently reported upon under the 

 two general heads of field work and office work. 



1. Field icorTc. 



The field work of the year is divided into (1) mound explorations and 

 (2) general field studies, embracing those relating to social customs, in- 

 stitutions, linguistics, and other divisions of anthropology. 



Mound exjyloratmis. — The work of exploring the mounds of the east- 

 ern United States was, as in previous years, under the charge of Prof. 

 Cyrus Thomas. 



Although Professor Thomas and his assistants have devoted a large 

 portion of the year to the study of the collections made in the division 

 of mound exploration and to the preparation of a report of its opera- 

 tions for the past five years, yet some field work of importance has been 

 done. 



Professor Thomas, in person, has examined the more important an- 

 cient works of New York and Ohio. He has given special attention 

 to the latter, with a view of determining where new and more accu- 

 rate descriptions, surveys, and illustrations are necessary. It was 

 found requisite to undertake a careful re-survey and description of a 

 number of the well-known works in Ohio. This re-examination, which 

 is still in progress, is deemed the more necessary in view of the light 

 shed on the origin and use of these monuments by the explorations 

 which have been carried on in West Virginia, western North Carolina, 

 and eastern Tennessee. 



Mr. J. P. Eogan continued his work as assistant until the close of 

 November, when he voluntarily resigned his position to enter upon other 

 engagements. A portion of his time during the first mouth was occu- 

 pied in arranging and i)reparing for shipment the collection purchased 

 of Mrs. McGlashan, in Savannah, Ga. The rest of his time was em- 

 ployed in exploring mounds along the upper Savannah Eiver in Georgia 

 and South Carolina and along the lower Yazoo Eiver in Mississippi. 



Mr. J. W. Emmert continued to act as field assistant until the end of 

 February, when the field work closed. His labors, with the exception 

 of a short visit to central New York, were confined to east Tennessee, 

 chiefly Blount, Monroe, and Loudon Counties, where numerous extensive 

 and very interesting groups are found in the section formerly occupied 

 by the Cheroki, Professor Thomas lias thought it necessary to devote 



