378 ZUNI CREATION MYTHS. [eth.ann.13 



representative in a more than merely general way of a phase of culture 

 through which all desert peoples, in the Old World as well as in the 

 Isew, must sometime have jiassed. Thus my researches among these 

 Zunis and my experimental researches upon myself, with my own hands, 

 under strictly primitive conditions, have together given me insight and 

 power to interpret their myths and old arts, as I could never otherwise 

 have hoped to do; and it has also enlarged my understanding of the 

 earliest conditions of man everywhere as nothing else could have done. 

 The leisure for this long continued research has been due to the 

 generosity, scicjutific disinterestedness, and personal kindness of my 

 former chief. Professor Spencer F. Baird, and of my present revered 

 director. Major J. W, Powell, whose patience and helpfulness through 

 years of struggle, ill-health, and delay could not adequately be repaid 

 by even the complete carrying out of the series of works herein pro- 

 jected and prefaced. To them and to Professor W J McGee, who has 

 aided and fostered this work in every possible way, I owe continual 

 gratitude. 



