Appendix II. 



REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF AMERICAN 

 ETHNOLOGY FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1899. 



Sir: I have the honor to ask attention to the following report of operations of the 

 Bureau of American Ethnology for the year ending June 30, 1899. The operations 

 have been conducted in accordance with an act of CongresH making provision "for 

 continuing researches relating to the American Indians, under the direction of the 

 Smithsonian Institution," approved July 1, 1898. 



The work has been carried forward in accordance with a plan of operations sub- 

 mitted on June 18, 1898, and duly approved by the Secretary. 



Field operations have been conducted in Arizona, California, Indian Territory, 

 Maine, Nebraska, New Brunswick, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, and Ontario, 

 while researches have been made by special agents in Alaska and Patagonia. The 

 office work has included the collection and preparation of material from Indian 

 tribes in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indian Territory, Iowa, 

 Nebraska, New Brunswick, New York, Oklahoma, Ontario, and in less quantity 

 from the several States and Territories, as well as from neighboring countries. 



As heretofore, the work has been conducted in accordance with a classification of 

 ethnic science based largely on the special researches of the last two decades and 

 developed largely in this Bureau. This classification has been set forth at length in 

 previous reports and need not be repeated. 



KIKLD RESEAUCH AND EXPLORATION. 



Early in the fiscal year the Director resumed the study of sliell mounds and earth- 

 works in ]\taine, and continued the comparison of aboriginal handiwork contained 

 in these accumulations with the handicraft of the partially accultured aborigines 

 still living in the adjacent forests and among the less frequented inlets and islands of 

 the coast. Some of the results were put in the form of a preliminary paper on 

 " Technology, or the Science of Industries," designed for further elaboration and 

 incorporation in the formal reports. 



Under a special authorization from the Secretary, Mr. W J McGee and Mr. W. H. 

 Holmes, of the U. S. National Museum, made an extended ethnologic and archeo- 

 logic reconnoissance in California during October, November, and December. The 

 districts examined comprised the western slopes and foothills of the Sierra Nevada, 

 including the Table Mountain region from Yuba River southward to Tule River; a 

 portion of the northern Coast Range region, centering about Ukiah; typical portions 

 of the Sacramento Valley, centering about Stockton, and the coastwise areas and 

 offshore islands of the southwestern region of the State. The primary purpose 

 was the collection of typical artifacts representing the aboriginal culture of the 

 peculiarly interesting Pacific coast province; a secondary purpose was the collection 

 of prehistoric relics, the comparison of these with the early historical period, and 

 the general study of the culture history of the region; and a satisfactory degree 

 of progress was made in the attainment of both purposes. The operations resulted 

 in substantial enrichment of the Museum through the acquisition of new and repre- 

 sentative material; indirectly the opportunities for local work led to the acquisition 

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