XXX REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY 



elaborate, albeit crude, religious systems among all the tribes. 

 As time passed these tendencies interacted and each investiga- 

 tion stimulated cognate research, and the Science of Man 

 expanded and grew definite and proved to have increasing 

 interest and importance. 



A general result flowing from the use of the linguistic clas- 

 sification was a method of research maturing in administrative 

 policy; energy was withdrawn largely from the somatologic 

 researches which had been found of no avail for practical 

 ethnic purposes, and attention was given chiefly to study of 

 those qualities of the aborigines which were found to be at the 

 same time of the greatest practical use and of the deepest 

 scientific significance. So the special lines of research taken 

 up as the work progressed were those relating to linguistics 

 or the arts of expression; to .social organization and law; to 

 myths and ceremonials, and to arts of both welfare and pleas- 

 ure. These considerations were adjusted to practical condi- 

 tions, including the means at the disposal of the Bureau, the 

 qualifications of collaborators, etc; and in this way the course 

 of the investigation and the history of the Bureau have been 

 shaped. Since the institution of the work, efforts have con- 

 stantly been made to increase and diffuse interest in ethno- 

 logic matters, not only through the publication of reports, but 

 through correspondence and personal conference; and it is a 

 source of great satisfaction to note the ever-increasing atten- 

 tion given to the Science of Man throughout the world and 

 especially in this country. This is the youngest of the 

 sciences; it can not even yet be said to lie fully organized and 

 recognized; but the organization is well advanced. 



It, is a pleasure to acknowledge the cooperation of many 

 investigators in different parts of the continent during the 

 last year. Through the scientific zeal and kindly courtesy of 

 these correspondents, valuable additions have been made to 

 the rich collection of aboriginal records in the archives of the 

 Bureau almost every month; and through these contributions 

 researches have been facilitated, and special records have been 

 enriched, and science has been promoted. It is earnestly 

 hoped that this collaboration may continue; and students of 



