ADMINISTRATIVK REPOBT XXXI 



ritual known as the Hako, obtained by Miss Alice C. 

 Fletcher. Its basis is one of those house ceremonies 

 which hold so large a place in aboriginal thought ; and it 

 is so exceptionally full at once as to reveal some of the 

 most strictly characteristic phases of primitive thought 

 and to illumine the simpler house rituals already recorded. 

 It is cosmogonic in import, and thus reflects the faith of 

 the tribe. At the same time its details indicate the tribal 

 migrations for many generations. It reveals primitive 

 notions concerning the origin of fire and the relations of 

 this agency to deified animals. It comprises a partially 

 archaic vocabulary, which promises to throw light on 

 tribal affinities, and it includes rhythmic and funda- 

 mental melodic features which contribute in important 

 degree to knowledge of aboriginal music. The entire 

 ritual, including the musical accompaniment, is well 

 advanced in preparation for the Twenty -second Report. 



Dr Cyrus Thomas continued the examination of Mayan 

 and Mexican aboriginal number systems, with special ref- 

 erence to the Mayan and Mexican calendar systems. 

 Early in 1900 he completed a memoir on the subject, 

 entitled "Mayan Calendar Systems," which was incor- 

 porated in the Nineteenth Annual Report. Later in the 

 fiscal year he continued in cognate work, making gratify- 

 ing progress. One of the most interesting features of 

 aboriginal culture to the scholars of the world is the series 

 of highly developed calendric systems extending from 

 Mexico on the north to Peru on the south ; these systems 

 reflect a knowledge of astronomy considerably less 

 advanced than that prevailing in Chaldea and Egypt at 

 the beginning of written history, yet sufficiently advanced 

 to indicate the l)eginniugs of astronomic observation and 

 generalization, and thus to define a stage of scientific 

 development of which the Old World record is practically 

 lost. Accordingly Dr Thomas's researches are deemed 

 especially valuable to scholars. 



As has been noted, Mr J. N. B. Hewitt has applied the 

 comparative method to the study of aboriginal traditions 

 with excellent results. During the closing months of the 



