KEPORT 'ON NATIONAL MUSEUM. 181 



(3.) At the close of the Boston Exhibition, recently, some 50 musical instruments, 

 numerous clay figures, and various other specimens were presented to the Institution 

 by Sourindro Mohun Tagore, rajah of one of the provinces of India and president of 

 the Bengal music school. The musical instruments are accompanied by full notes, 

 and the Museum is taking steps to obtain a supplemental collection to complete the 

 series. These objects were installed a few days since and are now on exhibition. 



Among the principal exchange collections are — 



(1st.) Some miscellaneous weapons from Polynesia and South America, obtained at 

 the Fisheries Exhibition. 



(2d. ) Some 16 musical instruments and accessories, from Tiflis, in the Caucasus, ob- 

 tained through Mr. Englemann, of Saint Louis. 



(3d.) About 40 specimens from the Leipzig Museum, consisting of knives, bows, ar- 

 rows, baskets, mate, &c, from Africa, particularly the Loango coast, and Gaboon 

 River, on the west coast. The admirable native steel implements are well illustrated. 

 This collection, combined with a few stray or miscellaneous articles and a small num- 

 ber given by Rev. Dr. Gurley, constitutes but a meager African ethnological exhibit. 



The Museum has just sent to the Trocadero, at Paris, an ethnological collection, se- 

 lected from the material in its possession, and doubtless their exchange will embrace 

 some additions to the above. 



Mr. J. G. Swan, in addition to the regular collections which he sends in from time 

 to time, last summer made a special trip for tbe Smithsonian Institution to the Queen 

 Charlotte Islands, B. C, and the results have just been received. 



In the early part of the year he sent in some photographs and about 100 specimens, 

 supplemental to his series illustrating the fisheries of the Indians in and around Cape 

 Flattery, Washington Territory. The complete collections went to London. 



In the trip referred to above, he started from Masset Sound, N. of Graham Island, and 

 coasted around the west side ; then through Skidegate Channel to the southeast coast ; 

 then home to Victoria. Now that he has partially carried out his long-cheri6hed de- 

 sire, it is to be hoped that his forthcoming notes will prove as valuable as those 

 previously published. A better kuowledge of the Haidah totems and toteinic carv- 

 ings is desired. The collection is rich in masks, wood carvings, ladles, ancient stone 

 implements, robes, clubs, shamans' wands, ceremonial bows, whistles, rattles, fishing 

 gear, &c, but particularly So in the slate carvings, of which he sends 30 specimens — 

 dishes, boxes, and models of totem posts. There was already on hand a sufficient 

 number of specimens to illustrate the Haidah wood carvings and working in silver, 

 but the additions to the slate carvings have made it appear desirable to install the 

 latter as a monographic collection, illustrating this art, which alone places the Hai- 

 dahs at the head of the Indians of the northwest coast. 



The Catlin collection of Indian paintings, presented in 1881 by Mrs. 

 Joseph Harrison, of Philadelphia, have been unpacked and placed on 

 exhibition in the lecture-room. The value of this collection is almost 

 inestimable, consisting, as it does, of over 600 paintings made by Catlin 

 previous to 1840 in various parts of the western United States, Mexico, 

 and British North America, and representing members of what were 

 then considered to be forty-eight distinct tribes. About one-half of the 

 figures are portraits, while the others represent ceremonies, games, and 

 hunting scenes. It was claimed by Mr. Catlin that over 3,000 figures 

 are represented in these paintings, and they are of the greatest value 

 as contemporary delineations of costume in addition to their importance 

 as portraits of the various types of Indian before they had become 

 changed by contact with the white man. This collection, which con- 



