APPKNDIX : KLEPHANT PIPES AND INSCRIBED TABLE IS. 281 



the consolidation of the various surveys under one management, the 

 Department of Ethnology was nominally detached from the Geological 

 Survey and attached to the Smithsonian Institution. Major Powell, 

 the director of the geological survey, v/as, however, continued in the 

 charge of this ethnological work, and hence the only noticeable change 

 in practical operations was a sounding title and additional appropri- 

 ations ! As was to be expected, Major Powell called about him his 

 former assistants, and thus we have the singular spectacle presented of 

 explorations among American antiquities conducted by geologists, or- 

 nithologists, entomologists, and ethnologists, without the aid of experi- 

 enced arch;eologists ! When it is remembered how exacting are the 

 requirements of science, and how its most minute departments have 

 become the life-work of trained spetialists, it may well be questioned 

 whether the genius of man is capable of passing successfully from one 

 to another of these fields of research. Be this as it may, archajolo- 

 gists will welcome to their ranks, from any source, all modest and 

 earnest students; but when these new-comers in archaeology set them- 

 selves up as critics, it is in order to question their authority I Official 

 position merely does not confer it ; and the venerable author of the 

 "Ancient Monuments," in his retirement, is to-day, throughout the 

 world of science, a higher "authority" in archaeology than the entire 

 "Bureau of Ethnology."* 



* An Examination of the per.tonnel of the Bureau of Ethnology will make it clear tiiat there 

 is no exaggeration in the above statement. The scientific fame of Major Powell rests mainly 

 upon his researches in geology-. The triumphant exploration of the Grand Canon threw a 

 glamour of romance over his career, and secured him high position among the veritable heroes of 

 science. It certainly cannot be said of Major Powell, as was asserted of one of his predecessors, 

 that he is a "geologist by act of Congress," for, while he has no claim to high rank as an arehs- 

 ologist, it is undoubtedly true that, in his special field of geology, he has attained deserved 

 eminence throughout the world of . science. Of Prof. Cyrus Thomas, who has charge of the 

 archaeological department of the Bureau, it may be said that during the maturity of his life, 

 while ecclesiastically interested in the gathering-in of souls, he was scientifically engaged in the 

 gathering-in of insects. Upon his ultimate abandonment of the pulpit he acce'ptedt he position of 

 State Entomologist of Illinois, and, by skill and abilitv in the performance of its duties, he attained 

 deserved eminence in his chosen field of entomology. Late in life Prof. Thomas abandoned 

 the study of both theology and entomology, and engaged in the exploration of American antiqui- 

 ties. Archsologists will undoubtedly extend to this iiccomplished gentleman a kindly welcome, 

 but his special achievements in archeology are yet to be disclosed. Of Mr. Henry W. Hen 

 shaw, who is also connected with this department, it has already been sufficiently indicated that 

 he is quite ignorant of everything pertaining to the science of arch<Eology; and it may be added 

 that his claim to be considered even an ornithologist seems to rest mainly upon Major Powell's 

 recommendation. We have thus properly located among these gentlemen the geologist, ento- 

 mologist, and, probably, the ornithologist, of the Bureau, and it onlv remains to ascertain the 

 " ethnologist " we have conceded to this department. In doing this we have experienced some 

 perplexity, and it may, after all, turn out that the "ethnologist " is also missing in this singular 

 " Bureau of Ethnology." We will, however, assume that Major Powell's great ability is equal 

 to the mastery of this other broad and interesting field of research. We must not omit to make 



