Anthropology 755 



cuted drawings of the Guesde collection of similar objects 

 from the island of Guadeloupe. 



In the same year as the Centennial Exposition in Philadel- 

 phia, and directly connected with that work, a quarto volume 

 was written by Professor Charles Rau on the "Archaeologi- 

 cal Collections of the United States Museum," and dis- 

 tributed by the Institution. This work was in the form of 

 an illustrative catalogue, and, although not exhaustive in its 

 treatment, served to give a wider knowledge than had been 

 current of the wealth of archaeological material in the mu- 

 seum. There can hardly be a question that this publication 

 should take high rank with other influences which at that 

 time quickened public interest in American antiquities, and 

 led to a rejuvenescence of scientific activity in several centers 

 of learning. But perhaps of special importance in that line 

 ought to be mentioned the several articles on methods of 

 archaeological study which appeared at about that time. Of 

 these the more important were, " Circulars in Reference to 

 American Archaeology," written by Professor Mason and 

 signed by Professor Henry, Secretary of the Smithsonian 

 Institution. Those interested in the antiquities of the mound 

 builders were appealed to in a circular of somewhat different 

 character, prepared by Doctor Cyrus Thomas, at the inaugu- 

 ration of his extensive explorations in this field. 



There is probably no more perplexing problem presented to 

 the anthropologists than the derivation of a prehistoric people 

 of Easter Island, one of the most isolated islands of the Pacific 

 Ocean. The colossal carvings in stone made by these people, 

 their quaint hieroglyphic slats and hideous figurines, have 

 attracted wide attention. A good representative collection 

 from this island is now housed in the National Museum, 

 and an exhaustive report, well illustrated, forms one of the 

 most interesting of the contributions to insular archaeology. 



