ANTHROPOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 147 



The ending of the ceremony is similar to that described in the 

 Yuma ceremonies. 



The cardinal points are sym-bolized among the Apaches thus: 

 East — Black. 

 South— White 

 West — Yellow. 

 North — Blue. 

 The sun in the east is called the "black sun." A wind gust or 

 tornado is also called " black." 



Ninety-Sixth Regular Meeting, May 5, 1885. 



Vice-President Col. Garrick Mallery, U. S. A., in the Chair. 



The Secretary of the Council announced the election of Hon. 

 W. B. Snell, Justice of the Police Court, and Mr. L. J. Hatch, of 

 the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, as active members of the 

 Society, and informed the Society that the Council had determined 

 to print Vol. HI of the Transactions of the Society. 



Col. F. A. Seely read a paper entitled "The Genesis of 



Inventions." 



During the past few years unusual attention has been directed to 

 the study of human inventions. The close relations between the 

 amelioration of man's condition and the improvement of his me- 

 chanic arts have led to the consideration of the subject as one in 

 which social science is concerned. It has been observed that insti- 

 tutions of every character — languages, laws, customs, philosophies, 

 and beliefs — have been largely, if not wholly, the product of in- 

 vention of somewhat the same character as that which has produced 

 tools and machines. The term invention has acquired a broader 

 scope, and includes every subject on which human thought and in- 

 genuity and fancy may exercise themselves. Its study is therefore 

 of no little consequence. It is no longer limited to the field of 

 mere mechanics and physics, but embraces all that concerns what- 

 ever has been devised by men to satisfy the material and moral 

 needs, either of the individual or of the mass in their various social 

 relations. I propose to inquire what are the processes by which in- 

 ventions are produced ; what influences lead to them; what laws, 



