S6 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



An important mound was excavated during the year by Mr 



E. R. Burmaster, and a fine type of a mound skull obtained. 



This mound is in Chautauqua county and is one of the largest 



of its kind in the State. 



A unique acquisition and addition to our collection of early 



religious objects is a crucifix obtained by Miss Pearl Hoppel in 



an old farmhouse at Fallsburg. It was 

 evidently made by some Delaware or 

 Minsi Indian in the early days and in- 

 deed has two totem animals of the Minsi 

 carved upon it. The accompanying fig- 

 ure shows a representation of this object. 



FOLKLORE 

 The study of the Iroquois rites and 

 folklore was continued with much suc- 

 cess. Valuable additions were made to 

 the notes on the wampum codes and con- 

 dolence ceremony. Mr Albert Cusick, 

 long the helper of and coworker with 

 Dr William M. Beauchamp, and pre- 

 viously the interpreter for Horatio Hall, 

 was of much assistance in this connec- 

 tion. Mr Cusick is an Onondaga by 

 birth and has long been regarded by the 

 Onondagas, and indeed by all the Six 

 Nations in New York, as their greatest 

 authority on the council rites of the 

 League of the Iroquois. In October, 

 a few weeks after the Archeologist had 

 completed his notes on tree symbols and 

 myths, Mr Cusick died. This serves as 

 a reminder of the fact that speedy work 

 must be done if any amount of informa- 

 tion is to be recorded. With the death 

 of Chief John Gibson, of the Six Na- 

 tions of Ontario, in October, another 

 native annalist passed beyond reach. 

 Mr Gibson had also been of considerable 

 assistance to this section of the Museum. 

 With the corrections made by Chief Edward Cornplanter on 

 the Code of Handsome Lake, the Seneca prophet, a manuscript 



Crucifix probably carved by 

 Minsi Indians. From 

 Fallsburg, N. Y. 



