PREFACE 



The information included in tliis volume was obtained during the 

 years 1908-1913 while employed by the Bureau of American Eth- 

 nology and on private expeditions. In all cases wherever it was 

 possible the author tried to obtain his information in Winnebago, 

 although the English version is printed here. Owing to the fact 

 that the Winnebago have for some time been accustomed to the use 

 of a syllabic alphabet borrowed from the Sauk and Fox, it was a 

 comparatively easy task to induce them to write down their mythol- 

 ogy and, at times, their ceremonies, and then have an interpreter 

 translate them. As the author has a fair command of Winnebago 

 grammar, he was able to control these translations and thus insiu-e 

 their approximate accuracy. On account of the importance of having 

 as accm^ate a record of the ceremonies as possible, those few cere- 

 monies that were obtained in syllabic text were subsequently taken 

 down in phonetic text. 



It has been the aim of the author to separate as definitely as possi- 

 ble his own comments from the actual data obtained, and for that 

 reason every chapter, with the exception of those on history, arche- 

 ology, and material cultm-e, is divided into two parts, a discussion 

 of the data and the data itself. 



Certain subjects, such as mythology, art, and music, have been 

 entirely omitted. In order to discuss the second a comparative 

 study of woodland art and design would have been necessary, which 

 would have entailed a prolonged study at different museums; and to 

 discuss the latter, specific training and knowledge were demanded, 

 which the author does not possess. 



The following monograph does not claim to be a comparative 

 study, but simply as intensive an investigation as the time spent 

 allowed, of an unusually interesting tribe, made under exceptionally 

 propitious conditions. It is principally the raw material that is pre- 

 sented here. Throughout the work, the Indian has been allowed to 

 tell the facts in his own way. For that reason no attempt has been 

 made to change the English, except when it was ungrammatical or 

 unintelligible. This will explain the simple and at times poor Eng- 

 lish of the accounts. 



The work ends rather abruptly because the section on mythology 

 and the general conclusion have been reserved for special treatment. 



In conclusion, the author wishes to thank all those Winnebago 

 who helped him since he first came among them. In particular does 



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