OF THE BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY. XXXIII 

 WORK OF MR. \V. .). HOFFMAN. 



Mr. Hoffman proceeded to tin- White Earth and Red Lake 

 reservations, Minnesota, and remained for three months, makiu&amp;lt;r 



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researches among- the ( )jib\v;i. He found that the most im 

 portant birch-bark records are those relating to the Ojibwa cos 

 mogony, the institution of the Midewiwin or Grand Medicine 

 Society, and the songs used in connection witli the ritual and 

 ceremony pertaining to the initiation of candidates into that 

 society. 



The pictographic charts are, as a rule, in the possession of 

 the Mide* or Grand Medicine men, though records relating to 

 hunting and personal exploits, as well as directions for killing 

 game, gathering fruits, and making journeys, and even per 

 sonal letters, are made by other members of the tribe who 

 possess more than the average intelligence. 



The great mass of charts consists of mnemonic, songs per 

 taining to incantations, exorcism, and other ceremonies, and a 

 considerable number of them were obtained, together with 

 their interpretations. Sketches of tattooed Indians were also 

 made, but the custom of tattooing is almost extinct, the only 

 modern markings being those applied to various portions of 

 the face for the exorcism of evil spirits which are supposed to 

 cause neuralgia, headache, and other pains. Hasty sketches 

 were obtained also of an old Grand Medicine chart at Red Lake, 

 a protracted examination of it not being permitted by the 

 keeper of the record. 



In addition to the pictographic material, a quantity of myth- 

 ologic data was collected, all or nearly all of which was in 

 timately connected with the rites of the secret society of the 

 Midewiwin, or Grand Medicine. 



WORK OF COL. (1ARRICK MALLKRY. 



Col. Mallery at first directed his attention to the exami 

 nation of the Ojibwa on the La Pointe and Red Cliff reser 

 vations in Wisconsin, and, although that proved to be a less 

 favorable field for ethnologic research than those in Minne 

 sota, above mentioned, owing to the stronger local influence 

 9 ETH in 



