18 EEPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1899, 



After returning from Porto Rico, Mr. Beckwith paid visits to Nor- 

 follv, Brookl^ni, Philadelphia, and other points, for the purpose of 

 examining and securing such objects of interest as had reached the 

 navy -yards from various points, and more especiall}^ from the war 

 vessels destro^^ed by our fleet at Santiago de Cuba. 



In April the head curator was invited to be the guest of Mr. George 

 Brackenridge, of San Antonio, Texas, on a trip to various points in 

 Mexico. The journey afforded him an opportunity of revisiting sev- 

 eral points of interest, including the valley of Mexico, San Juan 

 Teotihuacan, and Orizaba, and of examining for the first time two of 

 the most interesting archaeological sites in Mexico, namel}^, the ruins 

 of Xochicalco, near Cuernavaca, state of Morelos, and the obsidian 

 mines of Hidalgo. At the latter place valuable observations were 

 made and many minor relics illustrative of the quarrying and shaping 

 of the obsidian by the ancient Nahuatl tribes were obtained. 



Toward the latter part of May, Dr. Walter Hough, assistant curator 

 of the Division of Ethnolog}", joined Dr. J. N. Rose, of the Division 

 of Botan3% in an extended excursion into Mexico. Three months 

 were spent in the field and Doctor Hough was enabled to make the 

 acquaintance of the native peoples at many points and to secure col- 

 lections of interest in ethnology, ethnobotany, and archeology. 



COLLECTIONS RECEIVED. 



The more important collections received through gift, purchase, 

 and exchange during the year may be briefly mentioned: 



1. A collection of 121 specimens of Polynesian ethnological objects, 

 brought together mainly b}^ Mr. Henry Adams and acquired through 

 the bequest of Mr. W. H. Phillips, of which the archaeological por- 

 tions were recorded during the preceding year. 



2. Two hundred and thirty-four objects illustrating the potter's 

 art as practiced in early daj^s in Morgantown, West Virginia, pre- 

 sented by Miss Jennie Thompson through Dr. Walter Hough. The 

 period covered extends from 1790-1888. 



3. A collection of considerable importance embodying archaeological 

 and ethnological materials from Mexico and Central America, pur- 

 chased from Mr. E. W. Nelson, who spent a number of years travel- 

 ing and collecting in these countries. 



4. A large number of well-preserved specimens of ancient mound 

 potter}^, acquired by purchase from Mr. G. F. Morris, of Memphis, 

 Tennessee. 



5. A collection of 18 ancient Peruvian trephined skulls, brought 

 together by Dr. M. A. Munniz and acquired through the Bureau of 

 American Ethnology. 



6. The most important collection received b}^ the Division of Eth- 

 nology during the year was purchased from M. Emil Grauier, of 



