44 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



cate, briefly, the cliaracter of the more important additions to the Mu- 

 seum in systematic sequence with some reference to the result in in- 

 creasing our knowledge of particular regions. 



Antlir apology. — Beginning with anthropology as the most interesting 

 and important of such additions, I may refer again to the collections 

 made by Mr. Nelson at Saint Michaels. These are very exhaustive and 

 complete, and taken in connection with those sent by Mr. Lucien M. 

 Turner from the same region supply a very full illustration of man- 

 ners and customs of the Indian and Esquimaux races found in north- 

 western America. A special feature of Mr. Nelson's collection, like that 

 of Mr. Turner, is the immense variety of carvings in bone and wood, 

 representing various animal forms either in contour or in simple lines; 

 the latter calling to mind the engraving upon bone, especially of antlers 

 of reindeer found in the caverns of France and Germany, and throw 

 much light upon the region and character of these remains. Many 

 models of boats, traps for securing animals, fishing apparatus, articles of 

 clothing, and many other objects constitute the mass of the great collec- 

 tion sent by Mr. Nelson. 



Not at all inferior in interest, and only less in extent, are the collections 

 of Mr. Kumlien made by him during several months' residence at Cum- 

 berland Gulf, in Arctic America, and on the opposite coast of Greenland. 

 They include great numbers of ancient stone implements found in the 

 Esquimaux graves, and supply a previous deficiency in the collections 

 of the National Museum. There are also many articles of dress and 

 adornment, implements of war, and the chase, &c. In the last year's 

 collections of both Mr. Nelson and Mr. Kumlien are many stone imf)le- 

 ments, objects of horn, bone, or wood, illustrating in a very high degree 

 the functions and applications of certain articles of stone familiar to the 

 American archfeologist, the uses of which Avere previously conjectural. 

 These embrace scrapers, knives, planes, gouges, driUs, and many other 

 articles. 



During the past year the attention of the Institution has been called 

 especially to the subject of the soap-stone quarries, where the aborigines 

 obtained their material for soap-stone bowls, dishes, &c., constituting 

 so common a feature in American archaeology, but the source of which 

 has been heretofore but little noticed. Of these quite a number were- 

 met with during the year, and an examination more or less extensive 

 has been made of each under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution. 



During the spring of 1875, some specimens of steatite were received 

 from the quarry of John B. Wiggin, in Chula, Amelia County, Virginia. 

 Among these were fragments of rude vessels, which, from their number 

 and unfinished condition, were regarded as indicating that the place in 

 question was once an aboriginal mine. Mr. Wiggin was requested to 

 carefully save and forward all specimens of the kind which he might 

 discover ; and the receipt from him during the centennial jear of an 

 additional collection proved beyond doubt the correctness of the con- 

 jecture. 



