EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 57 



zona, to study the cttnologic characteristics of its inbabitants, aud to 

 make collections of such implements and utensils as would illustrate 

 their arts aud industries. Several months were spent among the vil- 

 lages, resulting in a large collection of rare objects, all of which were 

 selected with special reference to their anthropologic importance. This 

 collection contains many articles novel in character, and for different 

 uses from any heretofore obtained, all of which will form an important 

 addition to the collections in the IsTatioual Museum. 



A study of their religious ceremonials aud mythologic beliefs was 

 made, of which full notes were taken. Sketches Avere made of their 

 masks aud other objects which could not be obtained for the collection. 



Mrs. Stevenson was also enabled to secure a minute description of the 

 celebrated dance, or medicine ceremony, of the Navajos, called the Yei- 

 bit-cai. Mrs. Stevenson made complete sketches of the sand altars, 

 masks, and other objects employed in this ceremonial. 



Mr. Yictor Mindeleff, who has in past jears been engaged in investi- 

 gating the architecture of the pueblos, aud the ruius of the Southwest, 

 commenced work shortly before the beginning of the fiscal year. A 

 short visit was paid to the Moki villages, securing drawings of some 

 constructional details, and also traditions bearing on the ruins in that 

 vicinity. The main camj) was established near Mashongnavi, one of 

 the Moki villages. A large ruined pueblo, formerly occupied by the 

 Mashongnavis, was here surveyed. No standing walls are found at the 

 present time, and many portions of the plan are entirely obliterated. 

 Typical fragments of pottpry were collected. 



Following this work, four other ruined pueblos were surveyed, and 

 such portions of them as clearly indicated dividing walls were drawn 

 on the ground-plans. 



Many of the ruius in this vicinity, according to the traditions of the 

 Mokis, have been occupied in comparatively recent times — a number 

 of them having been abandoned since the Spanish conquest of the 

 country. In several cases the villages now occupied are not the same 

 as those first visited by the Spaniards, although probably retaining the 

 same names. 



While the work of surveying was in progress, in charge of Mr. Cos- 

 mos Mindeleff, Mr. Victor Mindeleff made a visit of several days at 

 Ream's Caiion, there to meet a number of the Navajo Indians to ex- 

 plain the purpose of the work and allay the suspicions of these Indians, 

 a necessary precaution, as some of the proposed work was laid out in 

 Caiion de Chelly, in the heart of their reservation. Eeceut restrictions 

 to which they had been subjected, as a consequence of new surveys of 

 the reservation line, had made them especially distrustful of parties of 

 Americans equipped with instruments for surveying. Incidental to such 

 explanations of the purpose of the work, an opportunity was afforded of 

 securing a number of mythologic notes, and also some interesting data 

 regarding the construction of their " hogans," with the rules prescrib- 



