XII BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



It is worthy of note that, while tlie science of nian has 

 advanced rapidly durino- the last twenty years throug'h the 

 efforts of alile investigators in different countries, the advance 

 has been particularlj^ rapid in the United States. No small 

 part of this advance must be ascribed to the farsighted gov- 

 ernmental policy of maintaining researches among the abo- 

 riginal tribes of the American continents, yet a part of the 

 progress would seem to be due to the wide range in ethnic 

 phenomena with which American students are favored. The 

 investigator in this country may easily come in contact with 

 representatives of every race and of every important strain 

 of lilood; at the same time he may study every important 

 grade in culture, from the savagery of some of the Indian 

 tribes, through the barbarism of others, up to the civilization 

 and enlightenment represented by the greater part of our pop- 

 ulation. Among the consequences of this favorable condi- 

 tion for study have been the stinuilation of observation and 

 the encouragement of strictly scientific methods of research. 

 Another result is found in the amassing of trustworthy data, in 

 unequaled amount, for comparative study. The general result 

 is expressed in extension and refinement of ethnic science, and 

 to some degree in the application of ethnology to practical 

 affairs. 



The systemization of the science resulting from considera- 

 tion of its subject-matter as exhibited in the operations of the 

 Bureau was set forth somewhat fully in the last report, and the 

 same system is followed in the present report. The science for 

 which the Bureau was organized under the act of Congress 

 treats but slightly of the somatic characteristics of the native 

 tribes of America; the researches extend rather over those char- 

 acteristics exhibited by men in the tribal state as they are por- 

 trayed in cultural elements. These elements of character arise 

 in the methods pursued by the tribesmen for the purpose of 

 securing pleasure, welfare, justice, expression, and opinion; 

 these pursuits involve activities which are esthetic, industrial, 

 governmentid, linguistic, and educational, and the activities 

 give rise to the sciences of esthetology, technology, sociology, 

 philology, and sophiology. 



