XXXVI BUKEAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



reproductions Tlie..sixtli paper is a general discussion of ])nni- 

 itive numbers and of the origin of numeral systems, by Mr 

 McGee, prejjared partly as an introduction to the more special 

 paper by Dr Thomas. The eightli paper is another product 

 of the researches in the pueblo reg'itin by Dr Fewkes. It 

 rejjresents a critical study of certain important ceremonies of 

 Tusayan. The last pajjer is a detailed account of wild rice 

 and the wild rice gatherers of the lake region, ])y Dr Alljert 

 Ernest Jenks, a sjjecial contributor to the Bureau. It sum- 

 marizes the results of extended researches in literature as well 

 as in the field. 



The distribution of the tribes treated iri these papers is 

 sufficiently broad to afford geographic perspective and give 

 opportunity for tracing the causes and conditions of tribal 

 diversity. Three of the papers find their subjects in the pueblo 

 region and three others in that central portion of the continent 

 whose aboriginal culture was long the marvel of the Old World, 

 while one treats of a northern tribe, and Mr. Mooney's memoir 

 deals with one of the most important tribes of the eastern 

 woods. So one of the regions is typically tropical, another 

 represents one of the most arid poi'tions of the temperate zone, 

 while the third typifies the humid lauds of the same zone. 



As a whole the papers deal chiefly, although not dispropor- 

 tionately, with the so})hic activities of the aborigines, i. e., 

 with their myths and beliefs and the ceremonies and other cus- 

 toms dependent thereon — for it is one of the lessons of ethnol- 

 ogy that among primitive folk the arts and industries, laws 

 and languages are in great measure shaped by crude faith. 

 The traditions of the Cherokee and the Tusayan well illustrate 

 the dominance of mythology over the lowly mind of the abo- 

 rigine, the numeral and calendar systems tell a similar story, 

 and the relics from Honduran mounds find significant paral- 

 lels among the votive ol)jects employed in the ceremonies of 

 Tusayan; while the signs and symbols of the several districts 

 are shown in the general pap(n- to betoken significant stages in 

 the development of thought among the peoples of the world. 



The time range covered by the subjects is considerable. 

 The Mayan calendars and the Honduran mounds represent 



