XX INTRODUCTION. 
probable that there and in western North Carolina is to be 
found the key that will materially assist in solving the problem 
of the peculiar works of Ohio. The results of these explora- 
tions are of unusual interest, independent of their supposed 
bearing on the Ohio mounds. 
Mr. James D. Middleton, who has been a constant assistant 
in the division since its organization, after completing some 
investigations begun in southern Illinois, visited western Ken- 
tucky for the purpose of investigating the works of that section, 
but was soon afterwards called to Washington to take part in 
the office work. During the month of June he visited and 
made a thorough survey of the extensive group of works near 
Charleston, West Virginia, of which Colonel Norris had made 
a partial exploration, the latter having been prevented from 
completing it by the sickness which immediately preceded his 
death. During the same month Mr. Middleton commenced the 
survey of the Ohio works before alluded to, obtaining some val- 
uable results in the short time before the close of the year. 
Mr. Gerard Fowke was also engaged for a short time in field 
work in western Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky, but was 
called early in autumn to Washington to assist in office work. 
GENERAL FIELD STUDIES. 
WORK OF MR. A. 8S. GATSCHET. 
During October and December Mr. Albert S. Gatschet was 
engaged in gathering historic and linguistic data in Louisiana, 
Texas, and the portion of Mexico adjoiing the Rio Grande, 
which region contains the remnants of a number of tribes whose 
language and linguistic affinity are practically unknown. After 
a long search Mr. Gatschet found a small settlement of Biloxi 
Indians at Indian Creek, five or six miles west of Lecompte, 
Rapides Parish, Louisiana, where they gain a livelihood as day 
laborers. Most of them speak English more than their native 
tongue; in fact, about two-thirds of the thirty-two survivors 
speak English only. The vocabulary obtained by him dis- 
closes the interesting fact that the Biloxi belong to the Siouan 
linguistic family. 
