[This e-text includes characters that will only display in UTF-8 (Unicode) text readers:
Ē ā ē ī ō ū (vowel with macron or “long” mark) Ă Ĕ Ĭ ă ĕ ĭ ŏ (vowel with breve or “short” mark) Ś ś ć (s, c with “acute”: mainly in Recording Indian Languages article) ⁿ (small raised n, representing nasalized vowel) ɔ ʞ ʇ (inverted letters) ‖ (double vertical line
There are also a handful of Greek words.
Some compromises were made to accommodate font availability:
The ordinary “cents” sign ¢ was used in place of the correct form ȼ, and bracketed [¢] represents the capital letter Ȼ. Turned c is represented by ɔ (technically an open o). Bracketed [K] and [T] represent upside-down (turned) capital K and T. Inverted V (described in text) is represented by the Greek letter Λ.
If your computer has a more appropriate character, feel free to replace letters globally.
Syllable stress is represented by an acute accent either on the main vówel or after the syl´lable; inconsistencies are unchanged. Except for special characters noted above, and obvious insertions such as and [Footnote], brackets are in the original. Note that in the Sign Language article, hand positions identified by letter (A, B ... W, Y) are descriptive; they do not represent a “finger alphabet”.
Italics are shown with lines. Boldface (rare) is shown with +marks+; in some articles the same notation is used for +small capitals+.
For consistency with later Annual Reports, a full List of Illustrations has been added after the Table of Contents, and each article has been given its own Table of Contents. In the original, the Contents were printed only at the beginning of the volume, and Illustrations were listed only with their respective articles.
Errors and inconsistencies are listed separately at the end of each article and after the combined Index. Differences in punctuation or hyphenization between the Table of Contents, Index, or List of Illustrations, and the item itself, are not noted.]
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
of the
BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY
to the
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
1879-’80
by
J. W. POWELL Director
WASHINGTON Government Printing Office 1881
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, Bureau of Ethnology, Washington, D.C., July, 1880.
Prof. SPENCER F. BAIRD, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.:
SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith the first annual report of the operations of the Bureau of Ethnology.
By act of Congress, an appropriation was made to continue researches in North American anthropology, the general direction of which was confided to yourself. As chief executive officer of the Smithsonian Institution, you entrusted to me the immediate control of the affairs of the Bureau. This report, with its appended papers, is designed to exhibit the methods and results of my administration of this trust.
If any measure of success has been attained, it is largely due to general instructions received from yourself and the advice you have ever patiently given me on all matters of importance.
I am indebted to my assistants, whose labors are delineated in the report, for their industry; hearty co-operation, and enthusiastic love of the science. Only through their zeal have your plans been executed.
Much assistance has been rendered the Bureau by a large body of scientific men engaged in the study of anthropology, some of whose names have been mentioned in the report and accompanying papers, and others will be put on record when the subject-matter of their writings is fully published.
I am, with respect, your obedient servant,
J. W. POWELL.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. Page.
Introductory xi Bibliography of North American philology, by J. C. Pilling xv Linguistic and other anthropologic researches, by J. O. Dorsey xvii Linguistic researches, by S. R. Riggs xviii Linguistic and general researches among the Klamath Indians, by A. S. Gatschet xix Studies among the Iroquois, by Mrs. E. A. Smith xxii Work by Prof. Otis T. Mason xxii The study of gesture speech, by Brevet Lieut. Col. Garrick Mallery xxiii Studies on Central American picture writing, by Prof. E. S. Holden xxv The study of mortuary customs, by Dr. H. C. Yarrow xxvi Investigations relating to cessions of lands by Indian tribes to the United States, by C. C. Royce xxvii Explorations by Mr. James Stevenson xxx Researches among the Wintuns, by Prof. J. W. Powell xxxii The preparation of manuals for use in American research xxxii Linguistic classification of the North American tribes xxxiii
ACCOMPANYING PAPERS. Page.
ON THE EVOLUTION OF LANGUAGE, BY J. W. POWELL.
Process by combination 3 Process by vocalic mutation 5 Process by intonation 6 Process by placement 6 Differentiation of the parts of speech 8
SKETCH OF THE MYTHOLOGY OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS, BY J. W. POWELL.
The genesis of philosophy 19 Two grand stages of philosophy 21 Mythologic philosophy has four stages 29 Outgrowth from mythologic philosophy 33 The course of evolution in mythologic philosophy 38 Mythic tales 43 The Cĭn-aú-äv Brothers discuss matters of importance to the Utes 44 Origin of the echo 45 The So´-kûs Wai´-ûn-ats 47 Ta-vwots has a fight with the sun 52
WYANDOT GOVERNMENT, BY J. W. POWELL.
The family 59 The gens 59 The phratry 60 Government 61 Civil government 61 Methods of choosing councillors 61 Functions of civil government 63 Marriage regulations 63 Name regulations 64 Regulations of personal adornment 64 Regulations of order in encampment 64 Property rights 65 Rights of persons 65 Community rights 65 Rights of religion 65 Crimes 66 Theft 66 Maiming 66 Murder 66 Treason 67 Witchcraft 67 Outlawry 67 Military government 68 Fellowhood 68
ON LIMITATIONS TO THE USE OF SOME ANTHROPOLOGIC DATA, BY J. W. POWELL.
Archæology 73 Picture writing 75 History, customs, and ethnic characteristics 76 Origin of man 77 Language 78 Mythology 81 Sociology 83 Psychology 83
A FURTHER CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY OF THE MORTUARY CUSTOMS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS, BY H. C. YARROW.
List of illustrations 89 Introductory 91 Classification of burial 92 Inhumation 93 Pit burial 93 Grave burial 101 Stone graves or cists 113 Burial in mounds 115 Burial beneath or in cabins, wigwams, or houses 122 Cave burial 126 Embalmment or mummification 130 Urn burial 137 Surface burial 138 Cairn burial 142 Cremation 143 Partial cremation 150 Aerial sepulture 152 Lodge burial 152 Box burial 155 Tree and scaffold burial 158 Partial scaffold burial and ossuaries 168 Superterrene and aerial burial in canoes 171 Aquatic burial 180 Living sepulchers 182 Mourning, sacrifice, feasts, etc. 183 Mourning 183 Sacrifice 187 Feasts 190 Superstition regarding burial feasts 191 Food 192 Dances 192 Songs 194 Games 195 Posts 197 Fires 198 Superstitions 199