6 DircHor's Annual Report. 



A number of books and .specimens purchased in Europe dur- 

 ing the year have not yet arrived owing to their detention in San 

 Francisco by the Customs officials of that port. One case of books 

 from Ivondon which was sent via Panama and San Francisco was 

 opened at the latter port in accordance with the United States reg- 

 ulations and without resoldering sent on a voyage of two thousand 

 miles. These annoyances it is hoped will now cease, for it is un- 

 derstood that orders making more suitable regulations have been 

 issued. 



TABLE OF ATTENDANCE. 



Owdng to the prevalence of the Bubonic Plague among the 

 Orientals of this city at the beginning of the year this Museum was 

 closed for two months and the Assistants were fully occupied as 

 sanitary inspecflors. During the rest of the year the single road 

 between towni and the Museum has been in a most disgraceful con- 

 dition, at times even dangerous, and has doubtless had an effect 

 upon the attendance at the Museum. The attendance of whites 

 has slightly diminished, that of Japanese increased from the previ- 

 ous year. Schools have made use of both the colleclions and the 

 publications in their courses, and it has been found necessary to 

 regulate this attendance to prevent anno^-ance to other visitors. 



