288 Field Museum of Natural History — Reports, Vol. IV. 



Field Expedition to the South Pacific. These not only include the 

 material collected by Dr. Lewis, but several thousand specimens selected 

 and purchased by the Curator from a dealer in Hamburg. As a result 

 of the expedition and the purchase mentioned, the Department now 

 possesses one of the most important and extensive collections of South 

 Pacific ethnology. It is not possible at this time to state accurately the 

 total number of specimens, but it is believed that it will exceed 20,000. 

 The large number of specimens from most of the islands of Melanesia 

 makes the collection of supreme importance. The collection from the 

 Admiralty Islands is probably unique, for it not only comprises a series 

 of fine carvings and a large series of specimens illustrating all phases of 

 ordinary material culture of the islanders, but more than 30 carved 

 beds, 20 huge carved drums, and 60 great bowls with highly decorated 

 handles. From the Baining Mountains, New Britain, are no less than 

 11 ceremonial masks, unmatched in character. The series of prepared 

 skulls from New Hebrides runs into the hundreds ; of prepared skulls from 

 New Guinea there are more than a thousand. Collections from the 

 Kaiserin Augusta region of German New Guinea are especially rich 

 and beautiful, comprising among other examples 4 feather masks 1 5 feet 

 in height. The series of carved drums and house ornaments from New 

 Caledonia adds to the effectiveness of an already rich collection from 

 this interesting island. While the bulk of material acquired during the 

 year must be credited to Mr. Field, yet the Department has made 

 other important accessions. An especially notable acquisition is that 

 of 1 5 7 ancient and wonderful bone carvings of intrinsic interest, assem- 

 bled in China by that distinguished Chinese scholar and missionary 

 Mr. F. H. Chalfant of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is Dr. Laufer's 

 opinion that these objects rank among the most ancient relics known 

 of Chinese antiquity and that they were originally used for purposes of 

 divination. The oracles and decisions given in reply to them by the 

 seers are carved into the surface of the bone and present the Oldest form 

 of Chinese writing now extant ; hence their remarkable interest. Among 

 the carvings represented are alligators of a surprisingly realistic form, 

 dragons, tortoises, snakes, and replicas of weapons, bells, and imple- 

 ments; again there are imitations of shell money and specimens of 

 ancient cowry-shells actually used in lieu of money. Somewhat similar 

 collections are to be found in the museums of Pittsburgh, Edinburgh, 

 London, and Berlin, but according to Mr. Chalfant this institution has 

 secured the finest and most valuable series ever taken from China. This 

 interesting and valuable acquisition was made possible through the 

 generosity of Mrs. T. B. Blackstone. To the generosity of Prince Dam- 

 rong, brother of the late King of Siam, the Museum is indebted for the 



