REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 21 
Mr. William E. Schneider, of Washington, and an Ipper’s relief- 
photograph, showing an entirely new application of photography, 
the gift of Mr. Albert H. Walker, of New York City. 
To the collection of musical instruments were added an upright 
piano, with twelve boxes of musical instruments made by Debain, of 
Paris, about 1850, a bequest from the late Mrs. Ann A. Jeffcott, 
of New Haven, Connecticut; a collection of old musical instruments 
presented by Mr. Weston D. Bayley, of Philadelphia, and a harp or 
musical bow of the type made and used by the natives of the Barbados, 
from Mrs. Sarah $. Frishmuth, of Philadelphia. 
One of the most important acquisitions by the division of historic 
religions was a Tibetan manuscript presented by the British Indian 
government, entitled ‘‘ Prajna Paramita, or Transcendental Wisdom.” 
It consists of a treatise on Tibetan Buddhistic theology or metaphysics, 
written in gold characters on the black ground of 363 cardboards, 
between coyers of lacquered wood. To Mr. Ephraim Benguiat the 
Museum is indebted for the loan of the following objects: An elaborate 
embroidery of fine French workmanship of the period of Louis XV, 
representing Joseph in an Egyptian chariot, with scenes of Egyptian 
life; an old English lamp, with a chain of quatrefoil; eight finely 
wrought and engraved silver cups used at the Jewish passover meal, 
and an old Samaritan bronze case of the Torah scroll, inlaid in silver, 
with Samaritan inscriptions and arabesques. Of special interest for 
the study of religions is a ‘‘ Pujah” set, consisting of the parapher- 
nalia used in Hindu family worship, showing the private and domestic 
side of Hindu religious life, obtained from Miss Emily Brainard 
Ryder. 
The historical collection received many accessions during the year, 
of which the following are the more important: Mrs. Julian James, 
of Washington, added to her already large loan collection many cos- 
tumes, ornaments of personal wear, and toilet articles, worn or used 
by the Bailey-Myers-Mason families from 1812 to 1900. The interest 
shown by Mrs. James in the welfare of this division may be illustrated 
by the mention of some of her recent deposits, which comprise gold 
and silver watches ornamented with jewels; bracelets of diamonds and 
other precious stones and of carved jet beads; tortoise-shell combs, 
some jeweled; opera glasses, one with a diamond monogram; brooches, 
pins, card cases of silver, gold, and amber, a solid silver wash bowl 
and pitcher handed down in the family from Spanish ancestors; silver 
cups, jade intaglio scarf pins, a pearl and diamond necklace on gold 
wire, gold and silver chatelaine bags, fans of pearl and ivory, earrings 
of gold and precious stones, five rare and valuable East India shawls, 
parasols of lace and carved ebony, a dress of pina cloth, satin and silk 
dresses, signet rings; a cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic and 
one of the Legion of Honor of France conferred upon members of 
