XVI BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



out definite recognition nf the shaping- on the part of the 

 operator — i. e., that the mills represent protolithic culture, 

 rather tlian the technolithic art characterized by designs and 

 models. 



The plan for the Indian congress at Omaha (mentioned in 

 a preceding paragraph) was formulated chiefly by Mr James 

 Mooney, in connection with Honorable Edward Rosewater, 

 president of the board of publicity and promotion of the expo- 

 sition, though conditions connected Avith administrative control 

 and 2:»olicing of the Indians assembled on the grounds led to the 

 assignment of a representative of the Indian Bureau, Captain 

 W. A. Mercer, as officer in charge of the congress; Imt Mr 

 Mooney cooperated in the installation and remained on the 

 ground throughout the exposition. In accordance with the 

 plans of Mr Mooney and Mr Rosewater, the Indians were domi- 

 ciled, so far as was practicable, in houses or lodges of their own 

 construction, and of more or less strictly aboriginal type; 

 accordingly the installation afforded an excellent opportunity 

 for the study of native house building, and of the ceremonies 

 connected with the highly interesting house-cult of the native 

 tribes. Among the lodges were two Blackfoot skin tents, 

 made and det^orated in aboriginal fashion in every respect, save 

 that cow hides were substituted for buffalo hides. A lodg-e of 

 special nature was a Wichita grass house, which faithfully 

 exemi)lified the aboriginal construction, since the structure was 

 an actual exam))le, the oldest in the Wichita village in Indian 

 Territory; this was repaired, taken down, and reconstructed 

 by aged men and women conversant with the house-cult of the 

 tribe. At the close of the exposition tliis specimen was obtained 

 for the National Museum. These and other structures erected 

 at Omaha and carefully studied by Mr Moone}" have added 

 materially to the knowledg-e of aborig-inal houses. 



The researches in California by Mr McGee and Mr Holmes 

 extended to basketry and added materialh- to knowledge of 

 the processes of basket making, especially among the Pomo 

 and Yokai tribes. The Hudson basketry collection comprises 

 examples of twelve different weaves, which lune been carefully 

 studied ])\ the collector, l)r J. ^y. Hudson, and are described 



