36 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 
develop all their known derivative forms. The number of possible derivative forms 
of a regular verb in the several conjugations is estimated by Mr. Hewitt to evary 
~ between 2,800 and 3,000. This numeration is of interest, because it has been asserted 
" by students of Indian languages that the number of possible derivative forms of an 
American Indian verb is infinite, and, secondly, because it has been estimated that 
a Greek verb so conjugated would be represented by about 1,300 forms. 
Grammatic gender has also received special attention. There are in the Tuskarora- 
Troquoian tongue three genders, which Mr. Hewitt names the anthropic, the zoic, 
and the azoic, which are expressed through the prefix pronouns only. In the an- 
thropic gender alone sex distinctions are found, and hence there are masculine and 
feminine pronouns therein. But in the zoic and azoic genders sex is not indicated. 
Hence, by the prefit pronouns the objects of discourse are classified into three 
genders. 
Mr. Hewitt continued making translations from the old French writers, Perrot, 
Lafitau, La Potherie, and others, of the notices and accounts of the beliefs, rites, and 
ceremonies, superstitions, and mythic tales of Iroquoian peoples. These were col- 
lated as aids in explaining and elaborating the matter collected in the field per- 
sonally by him. By their confirmative testimony, joined to the evidence of etymology, 
the Iroquoian cosmogony or genesis nythis found to originate in the personification 
by the Iroquoian mind of the elements, powers, processes, and the living creatures 
of the visible and sensible world. 
Mrs. Matilda C. Stevenson was engaged from the latter part of September, 1890, 
to June 30, 1891, in preparing for publication the material collected at the Pueblo of 
Sia, New Mexico, during the preceding spring and summer. 
Mr. Cosmos Mindeleff during the first five months of the fiscal year was occupied 
upon the card catalogue of ruins referred to in the last Annual Report and in the 
compilation and preparation of maps showing the distribution of ruins in the south- 
western part of the United States. This work was temporarily discontinued late in 
November, when he was ordered into the field, as above explained. 
He also has continued to be in charge of the modeling room. Its force during the 
year was devoted exclusively to the ‘‘ duplicate series,” reference to which has been 
made in previous reports, and no new work was undertaken. Five models were 
added to the series, ranging in size from 16 square feet to 250 square feet, and com- 
prising the following subjects: Mummy Cave Cliff Ruin, Arizona; Pueblo of Walpi, 
Arizona; Pueblo of Sechumovi, Arizona; Ruin of Penasco Blanco, New Mexico; and 
Pit of Nelson Mound. This series is nearing completion, and the Bureau now has 
material sufficient to form the nucleus of an exhibit such as it is often called upon 
to make, without disturbing its series of original models now deposited in the Na- 
tional Museum. It has also a small number of models which can be drawn upon to 
supply the demand for such material in the way of exchange with colleges and 
other scientific institutions. 
Mr. Jeremiah Curtin was oceupied with office work exclusively during the year. 
From July 1, 1890, until February 1, 1891, he arranged and copied vocabularies 
which he had previously collected in California, namely, Hupa, Ehnikan, Weitspe- 
kan, Wintu, Yana and Palaihnihan. He devoted the later months of the year to 
classifying and copying a large number of myths which he had collected among the 
Hupa, Ehnikan and Wintu Indians. These myths are for the greater part connected 
with medicine, though some are creation myths and myths relating to religion and 
the origin of various tribal customs and usages. 
Mr. De Lancey W. Gill continued in charge of the work of preparing and editing 
the illustrations for publications of the Bureau. The work done for the year ending 
June 30, 1891, was as follows: 
Drawings of objects and ethnologic specimens and miscellaneous diagrams... 422 
Ancient ruins, earthworks, and landscape drawings.-.--...-.-....---.-------- 133 
WAH on otis nau éoo ona bod Cokocoteneae sness. os oc HIER oI OOS ae aoccaseascse cess = 47 
