ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT. XXV 



Since the complex relations of the modes of expression culmi- 

 nate and are expressed in oral language, and can be inter- 

 preted only tlu*ougli this medium, special attention was given 

 to linguistic researches. These researches were in part direct, 

 and it has been found thereby that language indicates the 

 relations of tribes and families more (dearly than other cri- 

 teria, while at the same time the studies throw much light on 

 the interesting subject of the evolution of language; and in 

 part the linguistic researches have been pursued as a means to 

 the end of gaining insight into the social organization, philoso- 

 phy, and religion of the native tribes. Thus the problems of 

 American ethnology, seemingly simple at the outset, have 

 been found highly comjjlex, and many lines of investigation 

 have been opened. 



With the increase of knowledge concerning- the different 

 lines of research, the labors of the Bureau have increased in 

 some measure, though it has always been found necessarj'-, by 

 reason of financial limitations, to confine attention to those 

 branches of the work that promised to yield the largest 

 results with the least expenditure of time and monev. 



In accordance with the original plan of operations, special 

 topics are assigned to individual collaborators. In general, each 

 collaborator makes researches in the field during- a part of each 

 year, spending- the remaining months in the oftice in the elab- 

 oration of the field material, eitlier for ^jublication or for record 

 in such manner as to facilitate future studies and comparisons. 

 Thus the assignment of the work is primarily topical, and the 

 field researches form the basis for office work bv the field stu- 

 dents and their collaborators. 



Since the institution of the Bureau, it has been the policy to 

 convey to, and obtain from, intelligent observers all possible 

 information concerning the Indians, and under this policy a 

 wide con-espondence has grown up. Most of that i)ortion of 

 the edition of its })ublications allotted t<i the Bureau for distri- 

 bution is conveyed dii-ectly to ethnologic and archeologic stu- 

 dents who have communicated valuable linguistic and other 

 notes, which have been utilized l)y the Director and the col- 

 laborators in their researches. It is a pleasure to acknowledge 



