PREFATORY I^OTE 



Previous to the 3'ear 1906 the researches of the Bureau were 

 restricted to the American Indians, but by act of Congress approved 

 June 30 of that year the scope of its operations was extended to 

 inchide the natives of the Hawaiian islands. Funds were not specific- 

 ally provided, however, for prosecuting investigations among these 

 people, and in the absence of an appropriation for this purpose it was 

 considered inadvisable to restrict the systematic investigations among 

 the Indian tribes in order that the new field might be entered. 

 Fortunately the publication of valuable data pertaining to Hawaii 

 is already provided for, and the present memoir by Doctor Emerson 

 is the first of the Bureau's Hawaiian series. It is expected that this 

 Bulletin will be followed shortly by one comprising an extended list 

 of works relating to Hawaii, compiled by Prof. H. M. Ballou and 

 Dr. Cyrus Thomas. 



W. H. Holmes, 



Chief. 

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