354 RECORDS. 



customs connected with the older culture as described by the 

 early inhabitants and missionaries, as, for example, the cosmical 

 conceptions, the use of incense-burners identical with some 

 found in the ruins of Yucatan, the piercing of the ear with a 

 stone knife, and the worship of jade and other idols of stone, 

 long identical with Magle culture. That the Lacandones are the 

 descendants of a lower stratum in the social organization of the 

 Magas, the "gens rustica," seems evident from the lack of any- 

 thing approaching skill either from an architectural or an artistic 

 standpoint, the probable absence of a priestly class and along 

 with this a seemingly complete ignorance of the ancient system 

 of writing used among the Magas. 



Dr. Wissler discussed the general results of research in the 

 religious life and practices of American Plains Indians, showing 

 that the idea that supernatural power was received by the indi- 

 vidual in a vision, dream or inspiration, led to the conception of 

 an individual right to the use of such power, and that even in 

 religious rites recognized as tribal, the formal ownership was 

 vested in a smgle individual, and that the power of such rites in 

 the affairs of men could work through his consent alone. It 

 further appears that the right of the owner to transfer the 

 religious rite was recognized and that this had a commercial 

 aspect. This reached such a complex stage of development 

 that it practically determined the whole economic organization 

 of the people. On the subjective side, it appears that the real 

 power sought and operated through the songs making up the 

 ritualistic rites and that material objects and dance evolutions 

 were regarded as secondary. The songs were regarded as 

 prayers that the supernatural giver would always heed. 



R. S. Wood WORTH, 

 Secretary, pro tern. 



