SECOND ANNUAL REPORT 



OF THE 



BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY. 



BY J. W. POWEIili, DIRECTOR. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



Researches among the North American Indians, as directed 

 by act of Congress, have been diligently prosecuted during 

 the fiscal year 18S0-'81. The plan of operations has consisted 

 in — 



First. The direct employment of scholars and specialists 

 to conduct investigations and prepare the results for publica- 

 tion. 



Second. In inciting and guiding research immediately con- 

 ducted by collaborators not directly connected with the 

 Bureau of Ethnology. This branch of efi"ort has been success- 

 ful not only in this but in distant lands. The contributions 

 already received from many parts of the world relating to the 

 lower stages of culture among other peoples have been of 

 great value in elucidating the problems presented in North 

 America. This collaboration has been obtained, first, by the 

 wide circulation of the First Annual Report of the Bureau and 

 of the three publications which preceded it, viz, "Introduction 

 to the Study of Indian Languages," "Introduction to the 

 Study of Mortuary Customs," and "Introduction to the Study 

 of Sign Language," also by the similar circulation of subse- 

 quent publications hereinafter mentioned; second, by coiTe- 

 spondence with persons whose ascertained abilities and oppor- 

 tunities afi'orded a reasonable hope of their useful co-operation. 



