KEPOKT OF THE SECRETARY. 4^) 



cially those in Havana and Santiago; he also visited Matanzas, Santa Clara, and Puerto 

 Principe, and made excursions from the city of Santiago to settlements where a few 

 Indians still lived. The small collections of prehistoric objects obtained in eastei-n 

 Cuba were found to resemble those of 'the neighboring island of Santo Domingo, but 

 to differ distinctly from those of the western extremity of tlie island. From Santiago 

 he proceeded by the way of Jamaica to Trinidad, where he remained three weeks 

 and gathered a small collection of archeological and ethnological objects and obtained 

 data regarding the former inhabitants of the island and the present condition of sur- 

 vivors now living in the town of Arima. Here he obtained some information regard- 

 ing the "fire walk," or the "fire pass," of the cooly residents of the island. From 

 Trinidad he proceeded along the Lesser Antilles to Porto Rico, remaining, respec- 

 tively, one or more days at Barbados, Grenada, St. Vincent, and St. Thomas, and 

 obtaining prehistoric objects at several of these islands. 



March and April were mainly spent by Doctor Fewkes on the southern side of the 

 island of Porto Rico, visiting caves and shell heaps and other sites of prehistoric 

 occupation. Extensive shell heaps were found at Cayito, near Salinas, and at the 

 Coamo baths on the estate of Sefior Usera. Several caves showing evidence of former 

 occupation were found near Ponce. He purchased in Ponce the important collection 

 of Senor Neumann, containing several stone collars, rare idols, complete pieces of pot- 

 tery, and other objects. The whole collection made by Doctor Fewkes, including 

 ethnological and archeological objects, numbers 630 specimens. 



Since his return to Washington in May, Doctor FeAvkes has been occupied with 

 the preparation of a final report of his expeditions to the West Indies during the last 

 three years. 



Mrs. M. C. Stevenson, ethnologist, was engaged during the tirstsix months of the year 

 in completing her monograph of the Zuiii Indians and in preparing it for the press. 

 In January she set out for New Mexico with the view of continuing her researches 

 in certain directions, especially Avith respect to the relation of the Zuni people to 

 other tribes of the general region. Chief attention was given to the mythological 

 system and to the ceremonial dances, which followed in quick succession during the 

 late winter and the early spring months. 



Mrs. Stevenson found the people of Zuni much changed in recent years. The 

 former gentleness of character and the marked courtesy of the primitive aborigines 

 has entirely disappeared, save with a few <>f the older men and women, the desire 

 of sordid gain engendered by contact with the whites outweighing every other 

 motive. 



Mrs. Stevenson was commissioned to collect material illustrative of her researches 

 in Zuni, to form part of the Bureau's exhibit at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, 

 the special topic being the religiou.s symbolism embodied in the various arts, such 

 as pottery, textiles, basketry, in costumes, altars, images, and other ceremonial objects. 

 Her study of this subject, heretofore much neglected, was thorough, and the signifi- 

 cance of nearly every symbol now used by the Zuni was obtained. She observed 

 that, while the officers of the secret fraternities have a thorough understanding of the 

 symbolism associated with their altars, few persons know the meanings of the designs 

 employed in pottery and the other useful arts, the artists themselves having little 

 appreciation of the jjoetic imagery associated with the various figures. Mrs. Steven- 

 son believes that the original significance of the decorative motives of the Zuiii 

 people Mill soon be lost by them. 



Aside from her systematic researches, a number of special subjects were investi- 

 gated by Mrs. Stevenson, including the irrigating system of the Zufii at Ojo Caliente, 

 the manufacture and use of the native dyeing materials, the preparation of pig- 

 ments, etc. 



Early in August Dr. John R. Swanton, ethnologist, handed in a tyinnvritten copy 

 of the Haida texts obtained at Skidegate, Queen Charlotte Islands, during the winter 

 SM 1904 ^4 



