Btireau of American Ethnology 37 * 



wrought than any other within reach of students working 

 under governmental auspices ; and from the beginning it was 

 the aim to cultivate appreciatively this vast and fertile field, 

 and to join the anthropologists of the world in harvesting 

 improved and extended knowledge. Such was the primary 

 plan of the Bureau of American Ethnology to found as 

 well as to extend the science of man. 



When the researches began, certain general methods were 

 adopted. In accordance with the best scientific usage, re- 

 search began with actual observation on the ground ; recog- 

 nizing the complexity and elusiveness of human phenomena 

 and the fallibility of human perception, observations were 

 repeated and usually verified by others before acceptance ; 

 nothing was taken for granted, and even the most widely 

 accepted theories were held in abeyance until tested by 

 trained observers. As observations multiplied, they were 

 compared in order that relations might be discovered, and 

 ultimately the facts were grouped by relation. In this work 

 the several collaborators cooperated with the original stu- 

 dent, in order that the chance of erroneous grouping might 

 be reduced. When the detailed observations were of wide- 

 spread interest, they were published in part or in full ; when 

 they were of technical character, or for other reasons of in- 

 terest to few persons only (as in linguistics), only typical col- 

 lections were published, the mass being held for comparative 

 study. As research progressed the relations themselves were 

 compared and grouped, for the purpose of educing laws of 

 relation, or principles. This work was performed largely by 

 Director Powell, who not only originated, but constantly co- 

 ordinated the various lines of research ; though collaborators 

 were always encouraged to seek relations and educe princi- 

 ples, and to publish under their own names such results of 

 their work as were not inconsistent with those of other in- 



