XLIV BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



on walls, have been accurately recorded and published 

 and are available to students the world over, and discus- 

 sion can now proceed to much better advantage than 

 heretofore. A first paper on the Maya calendar systems 

 by Dr Thomas appeared in the Nineteenth Annual Report 

 of the Bureau, and the present paper continues the dis- 

 cussion, with special reference to the interpretations of 

 Mr Goodman. These papers necessarily assume a some- 

 what controversial character, but this is probably not to 

 be regretted, since the legitimate outcome of honest con- 

 troversy is a closer approximation of the truth. Already 

 some notable results have been achieved and are generally 

 accepted, and a fair understanding of the entire calendar 

 system may be looked forward to with confidence. 



"The Hako" is an important ceremony enacted by 

 various western tribes, and the record presented in the 

 paper by Miss Fletcher is exceptionally full and satisfac- 

 tory. This record was made among the Pawnees under 

 most favorable conditions. After years of patient work 

 the words and music of all the songs and explanations of 

 the rites and the hidden meanings of every word and act 

 were obtained. This was done mainly through the aid of 

 an old man of the Chaui band who is known as the Kurahus 

 or leader of the ceremony. Like primitive ceremonies 

 generally, this is a prayer, and its motives are peace, 

 plenty, and abundance of offspring. It is intertribal, and 

 not only serves as a means for the interchange of ideas 

 through contact and through gifts but represents one of 

 the many powerful agencies which, by spreading tolerance 

 and friendly feeling, tend to weld scattered warlike bands 

 of men into great peaceful nations. In its melodies, re- 

 corded on the graphophone and transcribed into our 

 notation by a skilful musician; in its meters, carefully 

 studied and analyzed; and in the metrical translation, 

 which has caught so ]3erfectly the spirit of the original, 

 there is al)undant material for students of music, poetiy, 

 and religion. The Bureau is fortunate in being the means 

 of presenting to the world this superb study of a typical 

 aboriginal ceremony. 



