144 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1889. 



to make special researches in its behalf, or who have allowed the Mn 

 seum to share the results of their explorations. The most itnportant- 

 of these are here briefly referred to. 



Early in the present year Mr. Talcott Williams, of Philadelphia, vis- 

 ited the northern part of Africa, and kindly offered in behalf of the 

 Smithsonian Institution to make special inquiries in regard to the civ- 

 ilization of the modern Arab and the natural history of the region ; 

 also to collect linguistic specimens. His plan was to go direct to 

 Tangiers, thence to Fez and Mequinez, continuing, if possible, as far 

 as Mogador and Morocco. Mr. Williams's knowledge of the Arabic 

 language aided him greatly in his investigations in the country, and 

 through his endeavors the Institution will no doubt obtain collec- 

 tions, as well as information, of extreme value. Botany, geology, and 

 archaeology are the special studies to which Mr. Williams intends to 

 devote himself. At the time of his arrival the North African flora was 

 in flower, and, as his plan was to travel for two or three weeks on horse- 

 back, his opportunities in the first direction were excellent. The geol- 

 ogy of north Africa is imperfectly represented in the National Museum, 

 therefore characteristic rocks and photographs of features of physical 

 geology will be of great value. The archaeology of this region is, how- 

 ever, the subject of the highest importance to the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution, and to which Mr. Williams has promised chiefly to direct his 

 attention. He hopes to visit El Kutel, one of the most striking mono- 

 lithic remains in north Africa, aud Other interesting ruins. He has 

 been furnished with a photographic outfit, photographs aud measure- 

 ments being particularly desired. He has been provided with a com- 

 plete outfit of instruments for taking observations of temperature and 

 altitudes. A preliminary report of the work accomplished has been 

 received in the form of a letter to the Secretary of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, and is here printed : 



Tangiers, Morocco, June 17, 1889. 

 Sir : I have the honor to make a preliminary report upon the commission intrusted 

 to me in Morocco. 



(1) The collection of musical instruments of north Morocco is, I trust, complete. 

 It includes every instrument in use, making six stringed instruments, six wind, and 

 four of percussion, with varieties of each ranging from the rudest bayi whistle to 

 stringed instruments which require the utmost skill in manufacture. In each instru- 

 ment the native name and the native names of all its parts have been noted, the pitch 

 of each string in the stringed and the range of each wind instrument, as tuned and 

 played by professional native musicians, has been taken and the air and melody of 

 a native tune played on each instrument has been noted by a competent musician in 

 our own musical notation. 



Aside from this incidental contribution to folk music I know no instance where a 

 museum catalogue or label gives the particulars I have mentioned of Oriental musical 

 instruments. 



(2) With reference to the Arab teut, I found, after careful examination, that the 

 Arab tribes whom I visited have been so altered by a semi-sedentary life, living half 

 and sometimes all the year in one place, and raising grain, that a tent would be mis- 

 leading and reflect only the current agricultural life of this country. J therefore did 



