REPORT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF ETHNOLOOY 

 IN THE [J. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM. L892. 



By Otis T. Mason, Curator. 



During the fiscal year the entire staff of this department has been 

 engaged in making preparation for the World's Columbian Exposition. 

 The subject of ethnology at Chicago having been placed under the 

 charge of Prof. Putnam, of Cambridge, it was necessary to devise some 

 scheme by which his operations in the general exhibit should be kept 

 separate from that of the Smithsonian Institution in the Government 

 building. 



After consideration it was thought best to have the work of the 

 Bureau of Ethnology (which is under the direction of the Smithsonian 

 Institution) and that of the Department of Ethnology united. For the 

 double purpose of this cooperation and of avoiding conflict with the gen- 

 eral exhibit, it was very opportune that the work of Maj. Powell, entitled 

 Indian Linguistic Families of America North of Mexico, was completed, 

 so that it could be utilized for our purpose. The result of this investi- 

 gation is that the tribes of North America have been divided into the 

 following linguistic families : Algonquian, Athapascan, Attacapan, Beo- 

 thukan, Caddoan, Chimakuan, Chimarikau, Chimmesyan, Chinookan, 

 Chitimachan, Chumashan, Coahuiltecan, Copehan, Costanoan, Eski 

 mauan, Esselenian, Iroquoian, Kalapooian, Karankawan, Keresan, Kio- 

 wan, Kitunahan, Koluschan, Kulanapan, Kusan, Lutuamian, Mariposan, 

 Moqueluinnan, Muskhogean, Natchesan, Palaihnihan, Piman, Pujunan, 

 Quoratean, Salinan, Salishan, Sastean, Shahaptian, Shoshonean, 

 Siouan, Skittagetan, Takilman, Tahoan, Timuquanan, Tonikan, Ton- 

 kawan, Uehean, Waiilatpuan, Wakashan, Washoan, Weitspekan, 

 Wishoskan, Yakonan, Yanan, Yukian, Yuman, Zuiiian. 



Many of these stocks, whatever may have been their previous his- 

 tory, at present include only a few individuals. Indeed a tew of them 

 have become extinct, and are known only in the literature of the early 

 explorers and missionaries. 



The Chicago Exposition furnishes an excellent opportunity of testing 

 the questions — how far language coordinates itself with industries and 

 activities as a mark of kinship and race, and how far climate and the 

 resources of the earth control the arts and industries of mankind in the 



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