40 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



various terma eluded the best efforts toward analysis throughout the earlier portion 

 of the year; but, on studying the creation myths with the aid of native informants 

 in the course of his field operations, he ascertained that these obscure inflections 

 connote a characteristically primitive notion concerning individual activity or power; 

 e. g., the shaman is supposed to work magic by the sound of his rattle or drum, and 

 the witch to work her evil charms by the action of singing, both acquiring their 

 mystical powers only l)v and through the supposedly mystical exercise of function 

 in producing the sound, and it is the purpose of some of the obscure linguistic inflec- 

 tions to denote the mystical states recognized in the mythology. It is well known 

 that the aboriginal languages possess inflections for normal states, such as sitting, 

 standing, reclining, moving, etc., but the recent researches show that there are 

 inflections also for mystical states, and that some of these quite significantly corre- 

 spond with the inflections for singing or dancing. A preliminary announcement of 

 results has been made, and formal publication will follow so soon as the inquiry can 

 be considered complete. 



Dr. Albert S. Gatschet continued the preparation of the comparative vocabulary 

 of the Algonquian stock, and at the same time, according to custom, compiled 

 linguistic material for use in reply to numerous inquiries from correspondents for 

 aboriginal terms to be applied to parks, vessels, villages, etc., and for the meaning 

 or etymology of aboriginal terms already in use. The field operations of the year 

 materially enriched the comparative vocabulary, which has already attained such 

 volume and completeness as to yield standards for classifying the tribes comi)rised 

 in the extensive stock to which it pertains. 



Working under a small allotment. Dr. Franz Boas has continued the preparation 

 of linguistic material collected among the tribes of northwestern United States and 

 contiguous Canadian territory. The principal contributions of the year comprise a 

 complete Tsimshian vocabulary and a considerable collection of texts. The texts 

 are in form for publication, and will be transmitted with the next report. 



During the year the Bureau was so f(jrtunate as to obtain, through the courteous 

 offices of Dr.' Edward Everett Hale, the vocabulary of the Massachusetts (Natick) 

 language laboriously prepared by the late J. Hammond Trumliull, and good progress 

 has been made in arranging the material for publication. 



WORK IS SOPHIOLOGY. 



Throughout the history of the Bureau, it has ])een the policy to organize the lines 

 of research in such manner as to permit comparative study of well-defined categories 

 of activities and activital products. The maintenance of this policy has been particu- 

 larly difficult in connection with the science of opinions, or sophiology, since the 

 object matter of the science is more elusive and complex than that of any other 

 branch of knowledge; yet fair progress has been made in the introduction of the 

 comparative method in even this branch of inquiry. During the year Mr. J. N. B. 

 Hewitt has made an important comparative study of the creation myths of several 

 Iroquoian tribes and of two or three Algonquian tribes. The results, which are of 

 much interest, are practically ready for publication. The comparative method has 

 been used with success also by Dr. J. Walter Fewkes in the interpretation of the 

 symbolism depicted on the pottery of the Hopi and other Pueblo people, while the 

 results attained by Mr. Gushing in his technologic researches were made tangible 

 only by constant use of the comparative method in seeking the mystical motives of 

 the primitive artisans. Progress has been made by the director in formulating the 

 method for the guidance of future inquiries. 



Although retarded by ill-health, Mrs. M. G. Stevenson made substantial progress 

 in her analysis and discussion of Zuiii mythology during the year, and the portions 

 of her memoir already completed have been withheld from publication pending the 

 revision made necessary l)y further researches concerning certain of the ceremonies. 



