Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Excerpt from Fifteenth Report of the Bureau of Ethnology: To the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1893-94
Thus far in the researches relating to the American Indians it has not been found necessary to consider in detail the essen tially biotic features which have led systematists to regard the American aborigines as a distinct race, since these features are in large measure common to all of the aborigines Of both American continents; but it has been found necessary to con sider in detail many of the essentially demotic features displayed by the various tribes. Proceeding with the study of demotic characteristics, it was ascertained that all of the native tribes, so far as known, are grouped or regimented in similar fashion, so that it is inexpedient to discriminate and classify the Indians on the basis of their mode of grouping; for classified in this way all the known tribes are essentially alike, and collectively form but a single category. Further research showed that, While the primary demotic units are essentially alike, the secondary units, representing the products of collective activity, are diverse; and accordingly the researches concerning the relations of the Indian tribes were directed chiefly toward the products Of intellectual activity among the tribes. In this way the researches were gradually divided into five principal lines, with their various subdivisions and ramifications, viz: (1) arts, or esthetology; (2) industries, or technology; (3) institutions, or sociology; (4) language, or linguistics; (5) Opinions and beliefs, or sophiology. Practical considerations from time to time have led to special activity in certain lines or branches and to temporary inactivity in other lines and branches; yet, so far as seemed feasible, the work of the Bureau has been so conducted as to develop alike the five categories Of secondary demotic characteristics.
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