56 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1901. 



large collections coming in from that region. Ten thousand feetof floor space would 

 n<>t be too much at once for the installation - of this fine material. 



(e) The Indo-Pacific collections are displayed on the north gallery of the west 

 hall. The cases are now crowded and yet not all of the precious Wilkes exploring 

 expedition specimens are installed. What are we to do when the vast Philippine 

 collections arrive in November? 



But the worst conditions, perhaps, exist in the west hall. As you enter it from 

 the rotunda you have the spoils of ancient classic art — Hamite, Semite, and Aryan — 

 in two alcoves. The rest of the space is devoted to modern Europe, Asia, and Africa, 

 a subject demanding 30,000 square feet, if not more. 



Incidentally connected with the ethnological exhibits are many technical series in 

 which a single art or device is traced through its ethnic distribution and its historic 

 elaboration. 



The study series of ethnology are to be found: 



(a) In the tower rooms of the west balcony, which are inaccessible, crowded, and 

 dirty. 



(b) In the drawers on the west balcony, where the specimens are quite accessible 

 and in good condition. 



(c^ In table and other cases all about the building, which is not satisfactory, as the 

 temptation to use this space for storage or stowage is very great. 



(d) Hidden away behind the pottery in pueblo court and piled up behind the 

 graphic arts exhibit. 



Again, there is no place in which to study the specimens, excepting our own 

 public offices, where the student is subject to all sorts of interruptions, and I trust 

 that measures can be taken at once toward providing a laboratory of ethnology, 

 where those who desire to make wide comparisons of things may have opportunity 

 to spread them out. 



Dr. Cyrus Adler, assistant curator, Division of Historic Archeol- 

 ogy, reports as follows: 



Some changes and additions have been made in the Section of Biblical and Pales- 

 tinian Antiquities. Casts are being made of the collection of oriental seals and the 

 inscribed magic bowls are being photographed preparatory to a study of their 

 significance. 



The collection is installed in the two alcoves west of the rotunda in the following 

 manner: 



North alcove, Biblical and Palestinian antiquities (manuscripts and editions of 

 the Bible, musical instruments, mineralogical and botanical specimens, dress, orna- 

 ments, and utensils of the East), in a wall case; monuments found in Palestine 

 (Moahite stone, Siloam inscription, Temple stone), Assyrian statues and slabs, on 

 the floor, the walls, and screens. 



The south alcove holds the collection of Egyptian antiquities (mummies, mummy 

 casts, and other funerary paraphernalia, statues, busts, reliefs, ornaments, etc.) in a 

 wall case, on the floor, and on screens; the mosaic from Carthage; the statues from 

 north Syria, and Hittite casts; the Persepolitan casts. 



On the top of the wall cases of both alcoves the larger casts of Greek and Roman 

 m ythologic subjects have a place. 



As custodian of Historic Religious Ceremonials, Dr. Adler writes: 



The two antique German altars recently acquired were restored and renovated, 

 with the addition of tables to both and a tabernacle to one of them. The larger 

 one was installed on the center balcony of west hall, facing the rotunda. Some 

 changes and additions were also made in the sections of the Jewish religion and 

 Brahmanism, and additional labels were prepared. 



