SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT 



BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY 



By J. W. Powell, Director. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The prosecution of research among the North American In- 

 dians, as directed by act of Congress, was continued during 

 the fiscal year 1884-'85. 



No change has been made in the general plan upon which 

 the work has been prosecuted as set forth in former reports. 

 Certain lines of investigation have been decided upon, which 

 are confided to persons trained in their pursuit, and the results 

 of these labors are presented from time to time in the publica- 

 tions of the Bureau provided for by law. A brief statement of 

 the work upon which each of the special students was actively 

 engaged during the fiscal year is furnished below ; this, how- 

 ever, does not embrace all the studies undertaken or services 

 rendered by them, since particular lines of research have been 

 suspended in this, as in former years, in order to prosecute tem- 

 porarily work regarded as of paramount importance. From 

 this cause delays have been occasioned in the completion of 

 several treatises and monographs, already partly in type, which 

 otherwise would have been published. 



Invitation is renewed for the assistance of explorers, writers, 

 and students who are not and may not desire to be officially 

 connected with the Bureau. Their contributions, whether in 



