REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 23 



be published, which it is hoped will be an important contribution to 

 our knowledge of the origin and early history of the cliff dwellings 

 and pueblos of the Southwest. 



Experts have also been engaged in the Indian Territory during the 

 year investigating the heraldic systems and the calendars of the Kiowa 

 Indians. Toward the close of the year a special expedition was sent 

 to excavate the ruins of the pueblos in the little-known country south- 

 west of Flagstaff and at Tusayan, in northeastern Arizona. This sec- 

 tion was under the charge of Dr. J. Walter Fewkes, and the results, 

 so far as reported, have been exceedingly important. 



The death of Col. Garrick Mallery interrupted for the time the work 

 of the Bureau in the investigation of Indian sign languages. The 

 study of the Mexican codices and inscriptions has been continued, and 

 an important paper on the Maya year has been published. 



As during previous years, especial attention has been paid to the 

 study of myths, beliefs, and ceremonials, especially those of the Zuni 

 Indians, who are particularly interesting by reason of the important 

 part played by mythology in their organizations. 



The illness of Mr. James C. Pilling, the distinguished specialist, who 

 has for many years had charge of the bibliographical work of the 

 Bureau, has for a time put an end to the publication of bibliographical 

 material. It is fortunate that so much of the important work of Mr. 

 Pilling has already been completed and printed. 



The study of the aboriginal languages, which has from the beginning 

 been a most important branch of the work of the Institution, has been 

 carried forward uninterruptedly, and has resulted in a preliminary 

 classification of the Indian tribes. During the year a large amount of 

 new material has been permanently recorded and satisfactory progress 

 has been made in the arrangement of the vocabularies and grammars 

 already collected. The Bureau has in its fireproof vaults several hun- 

 dred valuable manuscripts pertaining to the Indian languages which 

 are available for the use of students, pending the work of editing and 

 publication. The Bureau has also suffered a severe loss in this depart- 

 ment of the work in the death of Bev. J. Owen Dorsey. 



In addition to the special branches of investigation already referred 

 to, much has been done in the assembling and classifying of informa- 

 tion concerning the Indian tribes. 



Satisfactory progress was made in the publication of the results of 

 the Bureau's researches during the year. Eight complete volumes, 

 comprising 10 papers, covering nearly 2,000 pages, with 674 illustra- 

 tions, were received from press and in part distributed, and other 

 volumes were made ready for the Public Printer. 



Further details concerning the operations of the Bureau may be 

 found in the statement of Director Powell, which accompanies this 

 report as Appendix II. 



