ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT XV 
of the peoples of the Southwest and a collection of the 
ethnic flora of Zuni. Some years before, Mrs Stevenson 
had observed that the prayers of one of the Zuni rain 
priests were sung in the Sia tongue, and that one of the 
esoteric fraternities sang in Piman; but it was not until 
her last visit to Zuni that she learned that all the thir- 
teen esoteric fraternities used other languages than their 
own in their ceremonies. It is difficult to catch the words 
of an aboriginal choir singing to the accompaniment of 
rattles and drums, especially when the mind is absorbed 
in noting the ritual rather than the words employed; but 
during the last season, having in view a comparative 
study of the Pueblo Indians, and knowing that at least 
one fraternity employed a foreign tongue, Mrs Stevenson 
closely observed this feature of the ceremonies and made 
special inquiries of the priests and theurgists, thus deter- 
mining the remarkable fact that this was true of all. 
Several reasons can be advanced for this use of strange 
languages, but it remains for future investigation to 
acquaint us fully with the cause. 
Mrs Stevenson makes the important observation that, 
although the ceremonies which she deseribes in her mon- 
ograph were regularly practised during the first fifteen 
years spent by her in their study and were faithfully 
observed in every detail, they have since been gradually 
changed and in some instances abandoned. It thus ap- 
pears that these researches were not undertaken a moment 
too soon. 
The main results of the year’s-work in Zuni have been 
incorporated in the monographic study of the Zuni people 
prepared by Mrs Stevenson during previous years. The 
final work is now in the editor’s hands and will soon be 
submitted for publication. Mrs Stevenson’s familiarity 
with the language of the Zuni, the confidence with which 
she has inspired them, the deep insight into the philo- 
sophical and religious meaning of their ceremonies that 
she has gained, and her intimate knowledge of their 
