20 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



During the year special attention has been given to the classification 

 of the tribes in such manner as to indicate their origin and develop- 

 ment, and to this end the rich archives of the Bureau, comprising the 

 accumulations of eighteen years of research, have been subjected to 

 careful study, and important conclusions have been reached. 



The work of exploration within the United States was limited to 

 Arizona and New Mexico, where extensive surveys and excavations 

 were made by Dr. J. Walter Fewkes with most gratifying results. He 

 was able to obtain the richest collection of prehistoric pottery and 

 associated industrial products thus far made. This noteworthy collec- 

 tion has been installed in the National Museum, and special reports 

 relating to it are in preparation. Other collections made in the South- 

 west include a highly interesting series of ceremonial masks used by 

 the shamans in the pueblos of Zuiii and Sia; these also are installed in 

 the Museum, and will be discussed in forthcoming reports. A collec- 

 tion of prehistoric ware from the mounds of the Mississippi Valley was 

 acquired, and a smaller one of typical character was obtained from 

 Ohio, while a small collection of special value in comparative study 

 was obtained through the collaboration of an agent in Patagonia. 



The investigation of the rich collection of prehistoric material 

 obtained in Florida has been continued, and has yielded interesting 

 results. Comparative studies have also been made of the stone imple- 

 ments used by the Seri Indians of Tiburon Island, and those of various 

 other tribes. 



The work relating to the social organization prevailing among the 

 native tribes has been carried forward successfully, certain points 

 hitherto obscure having been cleared up during the year. 



The researches in linguistics have gone forward steadily. Progress 

 has been made in the preparation of the comparative dictionary of the 

 Algonquian dialects and in the collection of new material to be incor- 

 porated therein, and a systematic study has been made of the Iroquoian 

 languages. 



The study of decoration has been continued with renewed activity 

 with the accession of the rich collections from Arizona, New Mexico, 

 and Florida, while substantial i^rogress has been made also in the 

 researches concerning the aboriginal systems of mythology and their 

 bearing on the industrial and social development of the tribesmen. 



The i)ublication of reports, which had fallen somewhat in arrears, has 

 been brought up, and three reports, forming four large volumes, have 

 been published and distributed during the year. The demand for these 

 has been unprecedented. 



An exhibit arranged for display in the G-overnment building at the 

 Tennessee Centennial Exposition included a representation of a Kiowa 

 camp-circle, and a report on the Kiowa Indians explaining the social 

 features illustrated by the exhibit is now in preparation for the press. 



Further details concerning the operations of the bureau may be 

 found in Director Powell's report, forming Appendix II. 



