REPORT OP THE SECRETARY. 45 



the Algonquian stock collected by collaborators of the Bureau and obtained from 

 correspondents form several hundred manuscripts; and it is from this voluminous 

 material that the comparative vocabulary is compiled. In addition to this routine 

 work on the vocabulary, Dr. Gatschet has from time to time prepared linguistic 

 material for use in answering inquiries of numerous correspondents. 



Mr. J. N. B. Hewitt has continued the study of the Iroquoiau language during the 

 year. As noted in former reports, he has also carried forward a general study of the 

 pronoun as used in primitive tongues, with a view to the preparation of a memoir on 

 linguistic development. Partly as a means to this end, partly because of the inhe- 

 rent interest of the subject, he has undertaken a comparative study of the creation 

 myths of the Iroqubian and some other tribes. During the latter portion of the year 

 the greater part of his time has been devoted to this study, with highly satisfactory 

 results. 



During his operations among the Mescalero and Jicarilla Apache tribes of New 

 Mexico, mainly for the purpose of gaining knowledge concerning the ceremonial use 

 of the peyote among those people, as recorded in previous paragraphs, Mr. James 

 Mooney accepted the opportunity of obtaining vocabularies for comparison with cog- 

 nate dialects together with their genesis myths. The Mescalero and Jicarilla dialects 

 are practically the same, and the cosmogony of the two tribes is also nearly identical, 

 although they were generally at war with each other, the Mescalero cooperating 

 with the plain tribes while the Jicarilla were allies of the Ute. Owing to the fact 

 that the Lipan were exterminated nearly a generation ago, and by reason of the 

 isolation of the surviving remnants, doubt has been expressed as to their true affinity, 

 but from a vocabulary obtained by Mr. Mooney from members of this tribe associated 

 with the Mescalero on their reservation, it is now known that they speak Ti well- 

 defined Athapascan dialect. Such linguistic researches as the present meager 

 knowledge of their language would permit were also conducted by Mr. Mooney 

 among the modified Tiwa and Piro Indians on the Rio Grande below El Paso. 



Returning from the field for the purpose of revising proofs of a memoir on the Cal- 

 endar History of the Kiowa Indians, in course of composition as a part of the seven- 

 teenth annual report, Mr. James Mooney remained in the office during the last quarter 

 of the year, occupied, in the intervals of proof reading, in the translation and arrange- 

 ment of a large collection of Cherokee myths recorded in the original syllabary as 

 well as in the English. Satisfactory progress was made in preparing the material 

 for publication. 



During the later part of the year the researches in Indian sign language, which 

 were brought to a close by the death of Colonel Mallery in 1894, were resumed 

 through the collaboration of Capt. Hugh L. Scott, U. S. A. Captain Scott was sta- 

 tioned for some years on the frontier, where he was in constant contact with various 

 Indian tribes, including the plains Indians, among whom the sign language was 

 highly developed. Early in his stay he became interested in the signs and began 

 acquiring this interesting art of expression, and his studies continued until he became 

 proficient and able to use the sign language habitually iu communicating with 

 various tribes. His knowledge of the system is undoubtedly superior to that of 

 any other white man, and his acquaintance with individual signs exceeds that of any 

 Indian with whom he has come in contact. During the winter Captain Scott was 

 transferred to Washington, and through the courtesy of the Secretary of War and 

 the Commanding General of the Army he was authorized to take up the record and 

 discussion of sign language under the .direction of the Bureau. Considerable progress 

 had been made in the work when it was interrupted by conditions connected with 

 the war with Spain. 



WORK IN SOPHIOLOGY. 



The Director continued the development of a system of classification designed to 

 indicate the place of the American Indians among the peoples of the earth; during 

 the latter part of the year he took up the voluminous material in the Bureau 



