REPORT OP THE SECRETARY. 51 



written in the Cherokee language and alphabet, which he had ob- 

 tained from the native priests and their surviving relatives some 

 years ago, and about one-third of which he had already translated, 

 with explanatory notes. In connection with this work a large num- 

 ber of plants noted in the formulas as of medicinal or other value 

 were collected and transferred to the division of botany of the Na- 

 tional Museum for scientific identification. In this collection were 

 several specimens of the native corn of the Cherokee, still cultivated 

 as sacred by a few of the old conservatives. On examination by the 

 experts of the Department of Agriculture this corn was found to be 

 a new and hitherto undescribed variety of special food importance 

 under cultivation. Return was made from the field early in Octo- 

 ber, 1913. 



In June, 1914, a brief trip was made into Prince Georges and 

 Charles Counties, Md., for the purpose of investigating the status 

 and origin of some persons of supposedly Indian descent, con- 

 cerning whom several inquiries had come to the bureau. Mr. 

 Mooney found, as he had supposed, that these people, numbering in 

 all several hundred, were, like the Pamunkey of Virginia and the 

 so-called Croatan of North Carolina, a blend of the three races, In- 

 dian, Negro, and White, with the Indian blood probably predominat- 

 ing. They constitute and hold themselves a separate caste, distinct 

 from both white and negro. They probably represent the mongrel- 

 ized descendants of the Piscataway tribe, and are sometimes locally 

 distinguished among themselves as " We-Sort'," that is, "Our Sort." 



On June 22, 1914, Mr. Mooney again started for the East Cher- 

 okee to continue work on the sacred formulas, with a view to speedy 

 publication. 



His time in the office during the winter and spring was occupied 

 chiefly with the extended investigation of former Indian population, 

 together with routine correspondence and replies to letters of in- 

 quiry. On request of the Department of Justice he prepared an 

 extended deposition on tribal ranges and Indian depredations in 

 northern Mexico and along the Rio Grande, which was officially 

 characterized as one of the most important and interesting that had 

 ever come before the department. 



In pursuance of his investigations of the Creek Indians and allied 

 tribes. Dr. John R. Swanton, ethnologist, proceeded to Oklahoma 

 early in July to attend the busk ceremonies, and was present at those 

 of the Eufaula, Hilibi, Fish Pond, and Tukabachi Creeks. Notes 

 were taken on all of these and photographs obtained of various 

 features of all but the last. At the same time, with the valued as- 

 sistance of Mr. G. W. Grayson, of Eufaula, Dr. Swanton gathered 

 further ethnological information from some of the old people, and 

 continued this work after the ceremonies ceased. Somewhat later 



