B UREA U OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOO Y 99 



ported by the Smithsonian Institution and the Federal Govern- 

 ment. The bureau thus built up was known as the " U. S. Geo- 

 graphical and Geological Survey of the Rocky Mountain Region " 

 until 1879, when the work was divided, a moiety being trans- 

 ferred to the newly instituted U. S. Geological Survey, the other 

 moiety (including the ethnologic researches, which constituted 

 an important part of the work of the Rocky Mountain survey) 

 being continued in the ethnologic bureau at the cost of the Gov- 

 ernment and under the supervision of the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion; so the geographic work of the Bureau may be considered 

 to have begun with the exploration and survey of Colorado can- 

 yon and the neighboring county through the boldest and most 

 perilous among the scientific expeditions recorded in the annals 

 of the nation. Subsequently it was found inexpedient to make 

 extended geographic survej^s, and the work was generally car- 

 ried forward by means of the surveys and maps of other instru- 

 mentalities, notably the U. S. Geological Survey. Yet from 

 time to time special explorations and surveys have been made, 

 the latest (and the most extended during recent years) being 

 that of western Sonora (Mexico) and contigu6us parts of Ari- 

 zona, by W J McGee, with W. D. Johnson as topographer, 

 who traversed a considerable territory of which portions were 

 never before trodden by white men. Although the surveys 

 have thus been limited, the researches, viewed broadly and 

 in clear light, are largely geographic. It is a primary func- 

 tion of the Bureau to trace the geographic distribution of tribes 

 and larger groups of aborigines ; and this has been done 

 throughout the territory of the United States, and, to some 

 extent, in contiguous countries, and the resulting ethno-geo- 

 graphic maps are recognized as standards throughout the world. 

 At the same time, effort has constantly been made to trace the 

 migrations of the native tribes, as observed by the pioneers and 

 as indicated by the surprisingly rich legends and traditions of 

 the tribesmen, and also as recorded in the distribution of pre- 

 historic relics ; and thus it has been found feasible to prepare 

 ethno-geographic maps of various portions of the continent repre- 

 senting different periods in the development of the primitive race, 

 and a number of maps showing the migrations and less regular 

 wanderings of the native tribes have been published. Through 

 observations on the tribes and studies of their wanderings it has 

 been found that primitive peoples are, in large measure, creat- 



