Director's Annjial Report. j 



possible to estimate the^ time required, the number of men in each 

 division of the work, the tools needed, and the probable result. 

 Of course to lay this before the Trustees in a complete form would 

 require more space than even the largest of these annual reports 

 affords, and until the funds to set the machinery in motion are in 

 sight it would be profitless to do this. It ma}^ however, be stated 

 that an annual income of at least ^450,000 would be needed, ex- 

 tending over at least fifteen 3-ears, and the published results, using 

 brevity and condensed illustration, would fill a hundred quarto 

 volumes of seven to eight hundred pages. Several hundred 3'Oung 

 men would be engaged in the wonk of exploring, while the leading 

 men in each department would check the results. An extensive 

 correspondence has shown this to be possible, but it is not surpris- 

 ing that the magnitude of the scheme has caused the Trustees to 

 hesitate to embark this Museum in the undertaking until the 

 money basis is settled. On any less foundation it w-ould be folly 

 to undertake the work, even from an ethnological standpoint, for 

 the evidence to be sought is so rapidly disappearing that only by 

 throwing a small army of observers in the field at once can much 

 be accomplished; on the score of economy the other divisions of a 

 complete exploration should be conducted simultaneously. 



It was a source of gratification to the Direcftor that he could, 

 last spring, call the attention of many scientific men and educators 

 to the great need of such a survey, and to find that all agreed with 

 him that an exploration was desirable, and that Honolulu, if not 

 this Museum, was the proper centre of direcftion. From Sydney, 

 N. vS. W., and Florence in Italy came on the same day warm ap- 

 proval of such a survey from two most distinguished ethnologists 

 and museum diredlors. From the warm S3'mpathy and approval 

 of many men of note and influence, extra(5ts from whose letters 

 have been otherwise brought to the attention of the Trustees, the 

 Director may be pardoned for the belief that the survey will yet be- 

 come a reality, and that this Museum will greatly profit by the work. 



