50 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY. 



tial element in such divinatory games. One of the results of these researches is a 

 demonstration of the "world-wide use of the arrow and of the existence of close 

 analogies, if not homologies, in fundamental symbolism among the primitive peoples 

 of several continents. The researches also indicate relative recency in origin of 

 many of the games played for amusement among civilized peoples; and they show 

 the origin and successive stages of development of many of these games with remark- 

 able clearness. In scientific research each well-established conclusion gives a new 

 point of view from which the student is able to see further than before into the 

 unknown, and from which also he is able to see relations among the known more 

 clearly than before. This is strictly true of Mr. Cushing's researches concerning the 

 arrow. His preliminary conclusions have afforded insight into various primitive 

 customs and ideas. 



PSYCHOLOGY. 



Throughout the fiscal year the attention of the Director has been given chiefly to 

 the development of a classification of the races of mankind with special reference to 

 the American tribes. To this end the physical and mental attributes of the tribes 

 were considered in detail ; and at the same time the art products were studied as 

 the tangible expression of mental attributes. Pursuing the investigation, it became 

 evident that the distinctive characteristics of individuals, tribes, and peoples, are 

 substantially intellectual. In this way the Director was led to an analysis of the 

 psychic characteristics of mankind. At first the subject was obscure and appar- 

 ently so complex as to discourage investigation ; but as the work progressed, and as 

 arts, organizations, beliefs, and ceremonials, were interpreted as expressions of 

 psychic organization, the causes of apparently unrelated facts fell into order and 

 substantial progress was made in the researches. During recent months it has been 

 found that the researches concerning mental attributes of the American Indians 

 afford a clew to the differentiation of individuals and families, and the coalescence 

 of groups, and the development of individual and collective attributes. Thus the 

 researches in psychology have already yielded a basis for the classification of the 

 native tribes, and have illuminated the aboriginal arts, institutions and beliefs. 



Considerable progress has been made in the preparation of an extended report 

 on the classification .of the native races and their attributes on a comprehensive 

 psychic basis; but the memoir remained unfinished at the end of the year. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY. 



Notwithstanding the serious condition of his health, Mr. James C. Pilling con- 

 tinued almost uninterruptedly the compilation of the bibliography of the languages 

 of the North American Indians. The early part of the year was devoted specially to 

 the preparation of the Shahaptian bibliography; but realizing the gradual failure 

 of his strength, Mr. Pilling decided to lay aside this work and to devote his energy 

 to the more important and extensive bibliography of the Mexican languages, and 

 in this labor he was engaged until toward the close of the year, when, his strength 

 having become completely exhausted, he was compelled to abandon it. This bibli- 

 ography, however, is left in such condition that it is believed the compilation may 

 be made ready for publication without great labor. With the possible exception 

 of the Algonquian bibliography, the bibliography of the Mexican languages will 

 be the most voluminous of the entire series, and many inquiries concerning and 

 applications for the volume have already been made by students. After a long and 

 faithful career in behalf of the Bureau of American Ethnology, the fruits of which 

 are known the world over, Mr. Pilling's services terminated with the close of the 

 month of May. 



PUBLICATIONS. 



Satisfactory progress was made with the publications of the Bureau during the 

 year, the editorial work being conducted under the immediate direction of the cth- 



