THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 



center of the hall. The remainder are arranged according 

 to the classification of minerals. 



In the first cases on the right the visitor will find models 

 illustrating the various types of crystallization. In the left- 

 hand wall case are some unusually handsome specimens of 

 agate and opal, and in a near-by table case are models of 

 some of the most famous of the world's diamonds, includ- 

 ing the wonderful Cullinan diamond, the original of which 

 was valued at three million dollars, and the largest so far 

 discovered. Continue to the 



SOUTHWEST PAVILION 

 COLLECTIONS FROM THE PACIFIC ISLANDS 



Near the entrance is a large Hawaiian feather cape made 

 from the red and yellow feathers of a honey-sucker. Such 

 capes formerly were worn by the kings and chiefs of Ha- 

 waii. In the center of the hall is a group representing a 

 Tahitian priest in the firewalking ceremony. The explana- 

 tion of the fact that the heated rocks do not cause injury 

 to the bare feet is that the porous basalt is a bad conductor 

 of heat, so that while the stones appear to be of forbidding 

 heat the upper surface is not sufficiently hot to cause dis- 

 comfort to the tough-soled natives. 



On the left of this group is another showing a native 

 Tahitian engaged in making kava, a stupefying beverage 

 prepared from the roots of the pepper plant, Piper methys- 



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