THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 



BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY 



By J. W. Powell, Director 



INTRODUCTION 



Etlinologic researches among the American Indians were 

 continued during the fiscal year 1891-92, in accordance with 

 acts of Congress. 



When the Bureau was instituted in 1879, the ahorigiual 

 population of North America was already greath' restricted in 

 territory and considerably reduced in number, and the terri- 

 torial restriction was j^rogressing more rapidly than ever before 

 with the extension of white settlement, especially over the 

 western and nortliern jiortions of the continent. At the same 

 time the Indians were undergoing accultui'ation more rapidly 

 than ever before, by reason of frequent contact with white 

 men in nearly all parts of their aboriginal domain. The urgent 

 need of researches concerning the characteristics and relations 

 of the native races, emphasized l)y the rapidity with which 

 they were being restricted and modified, was recognized by 

 students and statesmen; this recognition led to the institution 

 of the Bureau. 



When the Bureau of Ethnology was organized, under author- 

 ity of law, a plan of operation was formulated in accordance 

 with what were deemed the most urgent needs. For two or 

 three centuries explorers and students had observed and 

 recorded, with pen and brush, the physical characteristics and 

 the daily habits and customs of the American aborigines, 



