XX ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 
facts touching the localities concerned, and the objects col- 
lected, both ancient and modern, are deposited in the National 
Museum. Experience has also shown that individual travelers, 
unguided and without common system, have failed to obtain 
the best results in the ascertainment of Indian languages, 
philosophies, and customs. The study of these subjects 
cannot be pursued from the accounts (however invaluable) 
of the early explorers and the precious vocabularies of pioneer 
missionaries without the interpretations and corrections to be 
obtained among existing tribes by the latest scientific methods 
of research. For these but little time now remains. 
MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 
WORK OF PROF. CYRUS THOMAS. 
The division organized for the survey and exploration of 
mounds and other ancient works in the territory of the United 
States east of the Rocky Mountains, which, as before reported, 
was placed in the charge of Prof. Cyrus Thomas, continued 
work during the year with satisfactory results. 
Exploraticns were carried on not only during the summer, 
autumn, and spring, but also throughout the entire winter. 
The regular assistants were the same as during the previous 
year, viz: Mr. P. W. Norris, Mr. James D. Middleton, and Dr. 
Edward Palmer. Messrs. John P. Rogan, John W. Emmert, 
and L. H. Thing were also employed for short periods as tem- 
porary assistants. 
The investigations of Mr. Norris were confined to the Kana- 
wha Valley, West Virginia, until suspended by extreme cold 
weather, when he went to Arkansas; but he returned to West 
Virginia in the latter part of May and remained there during 
the first part of June, 1884. Through his explorations it was 
made manifest that one of the most extensive and remarkable 
groups of ancient works in the United States is contained in 
the section mentioned. There is probably no group exhibit- 
ing a greater variety of works. They comprise mounds of 
various forms froma few inches to 40 feet in height, cireu- 
lar and irregular inclosures, parallel lines of walls, elevated 
