REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 49 



for dogs and horses, and translated 127 of these names for a forth- 

 coming paper on Fox sociology. Dr. Michelson finished the correc- 

 tion of Jones' Ojibwa Texts, part 2, which with part 1, previously 

 corrected by him, will form the basis of a proposed sketch of Ojibwa 

 grammar. During the fiscal year he also from time to time furnished 

 data to answer official correspondence. 



The beginning of the fiscal year found Mr. J. P. Harrington, 

 ethnologist, at Taos, N. Mex., engaged in the correction and comple- 

 tion of his manuscript on the Tiwa language. The Taos material of 

 the late Mrs. M. C. Stevenson, which is of considerable bulk and great 

 value, was also checked up and made more complete, especially in its 

 linguistic aspects. The close genetic relationship of the Tanoan 

 dialects of New Mexico with Kiowa is remarkable, a very large num- 

 ber of stems and affixes having practically the same sound, while the 

 grammar runs parallel throughout. Certain subtle and unusual 

 phonetic hardenings occurring in these languages make it impossible 

 to assume anything but common descent from a not very remote 

 ancestral tongue. These discoveries open up far-reaching specula- 

 tions and problems with regard to the origin of the Pueblo Indians. 



In August Mr. Harrington proceeded to southern California, 

 where he continued his studies of the Chumashan Indians, most of 

 the time being devoted to the Ventureno, which was also the dialect 

 most successfully studied. During the course of the work the last 

 good informant on the language of La Purisima died. Important 

 information was recorded on the ancient customs attending birth, 

 marriage, and death, and some idea was gleaned of the manner 

 of conducting primitive pre- Spanish fiestas. Data on native foods 

 was also obtained, including detailed descriptions of the prepa- 

 ration of acorn and other vegetal foods in this region, information 

 on these processes having never before been recorded. For example, 

 in the preparation of acorns various species were employed, and also 

 certain individual trees were noted for their preferable fruit, but the 

 final palatableness of the acorn mush depended largely on the pa- 

 tience and skill of the woman who prepared it. A kind of acorn 

 bread was also prepared by cooling the mush in small molds which 

 were placed in running water. Certain other vegetal foods, as the 

 pit of the islay or California wild cherry, required long and com- 

 plicated preparation. As primitive beverages may be mentioned 

 toasted chia or similar seeds stirred up with the fingers in cold 

 water; a satisfying drink made by soaking the bark of the ash in 

 water ; blackberries crushed in water ; and a drink prepared from the 

 fruit of the manzanita. A delicious sugar was obtained from a 

 species of reed, and the fruit of the juniper was ground into a sweet, 

 yellowish food. Interesting snatches of information reveal the 

 former plenitude of fish and game. Fishing paraphernalia was evi- 

 145986—19 4 



