THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



and could see no reason then for its escape from destruction by 

 the eruptions. 



It seems as if Pelee were following the history of the 1883 

 eruption of Krakatoa, which began vigorously in May and cul- 

 minated in a grand explosion in the latter part of August which 

 partly destroyed its island. Mt. Pelee's great outbursts this 

 year have been on an ascending scale of magnitude, though de- 

 creasing in frequency, but it is not wise to attempt to predict 

 what will happen before the volcano becomes quiet again. 



A preliminary report upon the writer's observations during 

 his stay upon the islands is in press and will be issued soon as 

 a part of the Museum Bulletin. This report will be illustrated 

 with maps of both islands and many photographs, most of which 

 are from negatives taken by the writer. The recent great out- 

 bursts, however, have made further important changes on the 

 islands, necessitating additional studies before a final report can 



be prepared. 



Edmund Otis Hovey. 



RECENT ETHNOLOGICAL WORK OF THE MUSEUM. 



^^^^^^^OR many vears the ethnological collections of the 

 ihfPlvf^^H Museum have been housed temporanlv m various 



halls. The completion of the southwest corner of 

 the building has made it possible to advance the 

 permanent installation materially. For a number 

 of years the collections from the North Pacific coast of America 

 have been on exhibition on the ground floor of the north wing. 

 When the west wing and the southwest corner building were 

 erected, the ground floor of each was allotted to ethnological 

 collections. 



Two points of view^ seemed most important in planning for 

 the development of these collections. On the one hand, the 

 principal aim of an ethnological exhibit had to be borne in mind. 

 This is to illustrate the various forms of human culture, bringing 

 home the fundamental unity of the human mind, and showing 

 how its achievements depend upon history and environment. 



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