THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 155 



agree that North America is the oldest continent geolog- 

 ically and probably man existed here first, so that instead 

 of races coming here from Asia, they probably went from 

 here to Asia. This lecture was illustrated by large cray- 

 ons, of plans, sketches of mounds and drawings of idols, 

 copper implements, pottery, etc. 



Monday, Feb. 22, 1892. The lecture this evening, by 

 Mr. J. Walter Fewkes of Boston, was on the "Study of 

 an Aboriginal Ceremonial." The lecturer stated that 

 among the Moki Indians of Arizona, a series of primitive 

 religious rites are performed of which, at least one occurs, 

 in every month. As each of these religious ceremonials oc- 

 cupied nine days, it could readily be seen how much time 

 during each year was taken up by such observances. It 

 is impossible, to understand the meaning of them, until 

 more is known of the details of them all. The ceremony 

 that attracted the most attention was the Snake Dance 

 as it is called, which is celebrated biennially in two of the 

 pueblos. This was not the most important of their cere- 

 monials although, from its weird character, it was the most 

 widely known. Mr. Fewkes then proceeded to describe 

 very fully the performance of the Snake Dance, detailing 

 all the events, and spoke of its meaning, which he consid- 

 ered was a ceremonial for rain. The lecture was illustrated 

 by stereopticon views. 



Monday, Feb. 29, 1892. The two hundredth anniver- 

 sary of the beginning of the witchcraft delusion in Salem, 

 was observed by the society at Academy Hall. There was 

 a very large and interested audience who listened for two 

 hours, with the closest attention, to the different speakers. 



Upon the stage were Professor E. S. Morse, Professor 

 D. B. Hagar, Rev. Charles B. Rice of Danvers, Mayor 



