TWENTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT 



OF THE 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



W. H. Holmes, Chief 



The operations of the Bvu-eaii of American Ethnology for 

 the fiscal year ended June 30, 1908,' conducted in-accordance 

 with the act of Congress making provision for continuing 

 researches relating to the American Indians under dh'ection 

 of the Smithsonian Institution, were carried forward in con- 

 formity with the plan of operations approved by the Secre- 

 tary May 25, 1907. 



. SYSf EM.\TIC RESEARCHES 



As in previous years, the systematic ethnologic work of 

 the Bureau was intrusted mainlj^ to the regular scientific 

 staff, which comprises eight members. This force is not 

 large enough, however, to give adequate attention to more 

 than a limited portion of the great field of research afforded 

 by the hundreds of tribes, and the Bureau has sought to 

 svipply the deficiency in a measure by enlisting the aid of 

 other specialists in various branches of the ethnologic work. 

 By this means it is able to extend its researches in several 

 directions at a comparatively modest outlay. While seeking 

 to cover in the most comprehensive manner the whole range 

 of American ethnology, the Bureau has taken particular care 

 to avoid entering vipon researches that are likely to be pro- 

 vided for by other agencies, public or private. The results 

 sought by the Bureau are: (1) Acquirement of a thorough 

 knowledge of the tribes, their origin, relationship to one 

 another and to the whites, locations, numbers, capacity for 



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