44 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



vocered, and also examples of the singular prehistoric works called by the Mexicans 

 "las trincheras" (entrenched mountains) observed. Passing northward, the ancient 

 Papago town of Caborca was visited and additional photographs were made. A 

 remarkable example of entrenched mountain near this point received careful atten- 

 tion. From Caborca the expedition proceeded to Pitiquita, where opportunitv was 

 again presented for collecting Papago material, and thence to Altar. The limit of 

 the time fixed for the journey on leaving Tucson being nearly at hand, and the stock 

 having suffered greatly from the rigors of travel through one of the most arid of 

 regions, it was found necessary here to abandon the plan for extending the studies 

 to San Domingo and Quitobaquita, the westernmost settlements of the Papago; and 

 the expedition proceeded directly toward the boundary near Sierra de la Union, 

 between Rancho de San Joaquin, in Sonora, and Rancho Ventano, in Arizona. 



There are several Papago rancherias near the last-named rancho, and in these col- 

 lections and photographs were made. The party then proceeded to Fresnal, the 

 principal Indian village in Papagueria, where the team was loaded with objects 

 obtained from the Indians. Later, Tucson (Indian) was visited, and afterwards a 

 stop was made at the Papago village of Coyote. Between the last-named points and 

 at Coyote prehistoric villages and other antiquities of much interest were noted, 

 and a small collection of fragmentary prehistoric pottery, etc., was made. On 

 November 25 the expedition returned to Tucson, and immediately on disbanding the 

 ethnologist in charge repaired to Washington, Mr. Dinwiddie remaining for a few 

 days for the purpose of completing collections on the Papago Reservation at San 

 Xavier. The expedition resulted in a considerable collection representing the arts 

 and industries of the partially acculturized Papago Indians, whose arts have been 

 hitherto but meagerly represented in the National Museum or other repositories of 

 scientific material; in the first noteworthy collection of objective material ever made 

 among the Seri Indians ; in some 500 photographs of the Seri and Papago Indians 

 and their surroundings, this collection being of special interest since the Seri 

 Indians have not hitherto been photographed, while few pictures of the Papago 

 have hitherto been taken; and in a considerable body of ethnic material appertain- 

 ing to both tribes. 



Toward the close of the calendar year Dr. Franz Boas, who had visited British 

 Columbia for the purpose of continuing researches relating to the native languages 

 under the auspices of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, com- 

 municated with the Bureau, suggesting that he be given authority and means for 

 visiting the Kathlamet Indians of the lower Columbia region and collecting texts 

 representing their language and mythology. After correspondence he was author- 

 ized to carry out his plan of operations, the material collected to be conveyed to 

 the Bureau for a stipulated sum. Dr. Boas devoted several weeks to the work, and 

 after his return to eastern United States prepared the material for publication. It 

 was not quite complete at the end of the fiscal year, but was soon afterward trans- 

 mitted and found to be a valuable addition to knowledge concerning the north- 

 western tribes. 



About the end of December Mr. James Mooney proceeded to the field in Indian 

 Territory for the purpose of making researches concerning the Kiowa calendar and 

 the Kiowa heraldic system. He remained dwelling among the Kiowa Indians until 

 after the close of the fiscal year. Among the Kiowa as among other Plains Indians, 

 and indeed among all of the aboriginal tribes, there is a widespread symbolism by 

 which the arts are influenced and guided. Under this symbolism tents, shields, 

 arrows, pipes, musical instruments, robes, and other articles are inscribed, painted, 

 or otherwise marked with designs. In many cases these designs possess decorative 

 value, and by superficial students they are commonly supposed to be used simply 

 for decoration; but study of the Indian character and motive shows that the design 

 is not primarily decorative (though the germ of decoration may be found therein), 

 but symbolic and fraught with meaning to those who understand the symbolism. 

 This primitive symbolism is found to be developed and differentiated in various 



