OCR Text |
Show OP THE BUREAU OP ETHNOLOGY. . XXV pologic importance. This collection contains many articles novel in character and with uses differing from any heretofore obtained, and forms an important addition to the collections in the National Museum. A study of their religious ceremonials and mythology was made, of which full notes were taken. Sketches were made of their masks and other objects which could not be obtained for the collection. Mrs. Stevenson was also enabled to obtain a minute description of the celebrated dance, or medicine ceremony, of the Navajos,. called the Y& bit- cai. She made complete sketches of the sand altars, masks, and other objects employed in this ceremonial. « WORK OF MESSRS. VICTOR MINDELEFF AND COSMOS MINDELEFF. Mr. Victor MindelefF, who had been engaged for several years in investigating the architecture of the pueblos and the ruins of the southwest, was at the beginning of the fiscal year at work among the Moki towns in Arizona, in charge of a - party. Mr. Cosmos Mindeleff left Washington on July 6 for the same locality. He was placed in charge of the surveying necessary in the Stone Village region, and the result of his work is included in the general report of that division. Visits were paid to the Moki villages in succession, obtaining drawings of some constructional details, and also traditions bearing on the ruins in that vicinity. The main camp was established near Mashongnavi, one of the Moki villages. A large ruined pueblo, formerly occupied by the Mashongnavi, was here surveyed. No standing walls are found at the present time, and many portions of the plan are entirely obliterated. Typical fragments of pottery were collected. Following this work, four other ruined pueblos were surveyed, and such portions of them as clearly indicated dividing walls were drawn on the ground plans. Many of the ruins in this vicinity, according to the traditions of the Mokis, have been occupied in comparatively recent times- a number of them having been abandoned since the Spanish conquest of the country. In several cases the villages |