XXX REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY 



Work in mytholofm — ]\Irs ^Matilda Coxe Stevenson was occu- 

 pied iu part throughout the month in revising- the Jjage proofs 

 and illustrations of her memoir on "The Sia," forming part of the 

 Eleventh Annual Report. In addition, she was engaged in the 

 examination of anthropologic material at the World's Fair in 

 Chicago, serving for a time as an honorary judge of exhibits. 



Having completed his work in arranging the exhibits of the 

 Bureau of Ethnology at the World's Fair, Mr Frank Hamilton 

 Gushing returned to Washington and resuined researches in 

 mythology about the middle of September. Since that time 

 lie has caiTied forward a study of the origin of aboriginal 

 games, which are largely divinatory. The arrows, dice, and 

 other objects used in the games, and the svmbolism (often 

 higlilv esoteric and significant) employed therein have received 

 special attention. Curious coincidences or identities between 

 certain divinatory games of this country and those of the 

 Orient have been brought to light. With the collaboration of 

 Mr Stewart Culin, of the University of Peimsylvania, Mr Cush- 

 ing has made good progress in the preparation of a bulletin on 

 this subject. In addition, Mr Oushiug has made researches 

 concerning the significance of the Swastika or Fylfot cross, 

 long known in the Orient, though its meaning was not inter- 

 preted ; and by study of various forms of this ol)ject from 

 different American localities, in connection with legend and 

 myth, he has ascertained that the x\meriean swastika is a wide- 

 spread wind symbol, and plays an important part in occidental 

 mythology. Finally Mr Cushing has prepared an elaborate 

 report on the collections of the Bureau at the World's Colum- 

 bian Exposition, particularly those connected with aboriginal 

 mythology. 



Work in linguistics — Mr J. Owen Dorsey has continued and 

 completed the revision of page proofs, illustrations, etc, for 

 Riggs' "Dakota Granmiar, Texts, and EthnogTaphy." He has 

 also prepared a su})])lement thereto in the form of an introduc- 

 tory chapter, and of this also the proofs have been revised. 

 In addition to this literary work, Mr Dorsey has continued the 

 elaboration of linguistic inaterial, especiallv that of the Biloxi 

 Indians of Louisiana. He has given attention also to Indian 



