92 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1«95. 



In the north alcove of the west hall are the Jewish, Mohammedan, and 

 Gra^co-Eomaii religious collections, while in the south alcove, op])osite, 

 are arranged the religious objects relating to Brahmanism, Buddhism, 

 and Shiiitoisin. 



The principal additions during the year were a Siamese edition of 

 the sacred writings of the Southern Buddhists, presented by the King 

 of Siam; the liturgy of the Bene Israel of Bombay in the Maratha lan- 

 guage, presented by Eev. Henry Cohen, Galveston, Tex., and a Jap- 

 anese temple drum, deposited by Dr. G. Brown Goode. The Museum 

 is also indebted to Mr. E. Dorsey Mohun, United States consul at Zan- 

 zibar, for copies of the Korau, a Koran stand, and prayer mats, and to 

 Eev. Henry Cchen for four volumes of Jewish liturgy. 



Casts of the Temple stone, Siloam inscription, and twelve Assyrian 

 seals were sent to Eev. C. C. Newton, Tokyo, Japan, in exclmngp for 

 Buddhistic and Shinto objects. 



Much progress has been made in the installation of the objects now 

 on exhibition. This matter is referred to more in detail in the chapter 

 entitled "The development and arrangement of the exhibition series." 

 All of the collections not on exhibition have been rearranged and put 

 in storage cases. The molds and casts have been placed in the base- 

 ment of the Smithsonian building, where they are safe and easily 

 accessible. 



Dr. Adler has commenced a study of Jewish ceremonial institutions. 

 He has also continued his study of ancient oriental seals, and in this 

 work has had the opportunity of examining a large collection of seals 

 belonging to Dr. Frederick Stearns, of Detroit, Mich. Casts were made 

 of 82 of these specimens. He has also completed a paper on the "Cot- 

 ton Grotto near Jerusalem and ancient Methods of Quarrying." This 

 is based partly on objects which he has presented to the Museum. 



It is Dr. Adler's desire to gather a collection of Hittite casts and a 

 series of amulets. 



During the year 171 specimens were received. The entries in the 

 catalogue were contained between numbers 15481G and 1541)90. 



