ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT XI 



It was found iinpractieable, on account of the restricted 

 resources of the Bureau, to provide for all the branches of 

 work referred to in the ]dan of oiierations for the year. 

 The transcription of the Motul Dictionary was not resumed, 

 and the cataloguing of books and photographic negatives 

 has not received the attention it deserves. The lack of a 

 permanent force sufficient to cover all the ground was 

 compensated for in part, however, by the temporary em- 

 ploj'inent of special expert help in directions in which it 

 could be made most effective. 



EXPOSITION WORK 



The preparation of an exhibit for the Louisiana Pur- 

 chase Exposition, begun during the preceding year, was 

 continued, and completed vShortly after the opening of the 

 exposition in May. This work was under the personal 

 supervision of the Chief, who at the same time had charge 

 of the preparation of an extensive exhibit for the Depart- 

 ment of Anthropology of the United States National 

 Museum. As the allotment of $2,000, made by the Gov- 

 ernment Board for the Bureau exhibit, was too small to 

 warrant the assemblage of an extensive display, and as 

 the space assigned was small, it was decided to confine 

 the exhibit to illustrations of the present field researches 

 of the scientific corps of the Bureau. 



Seeking a subject that would be well within the range 

 of the Bureau's legitimate field, yet susceptible of effect- 

 ive presentation by means of objective material, it was 

 decided to take up and illustrate as the chief topic the 

 mythic symbolism of various tribes as embodied in their 

 decorative art. Prominent among the concepts thus em- 

 bodied are the various forms of animal and plant life, 

 clouds, lightning, rain, sun, moon, and stars, as well as 

 various monsters existing only in the imagination. These 

 motives are interwoven with the thought and life of the 

 people, and are introduced freely into their various arts. 

 The forms taken by them are exceedingly varied, under- 

 going modifications with the different peoples, and assum- 

 ing distinct forms in each art according to the nature and 



