480 The Smithsonian Institution 



in 1888-89 an d 1891-92. Mr. Rockhill was especially fitted 

 for such work in view of his connection with the United 

 States Consular Service in China during several previous 

 years. At the time of revisiting the East he obtained much 

 interesting information concerning the manners and customs 

 of the people, and made extensive collections. An account 

 of his last journey was published by the Institution under the 

 title of " Diary of a Journey through Mongolia and Tibet in 

 1891 and 1892." Another illustrated paper by Mr. Rockhill, 

 on the "Ethnology of Tibet," in which his collections are de- 

 scribed, was published in I893. 1 



In 1890 an expedition was sent to the west coast of Africa 

 to observe an eclipse of the sun, and the Institution was af- 

 forded an opportunity to send an assistant of the National 

 Museum to make natural history observations. 



These are but a few examples from a large series of for- 

 eign explorations in which the Institution has taken a more 

 or less prominent part. The appreciation of its labors in 

 foreign fields has been manifested in various ways, and per- 

 haps in no more conspicuous manner than by the generous 

 action of Doctor William L. Abbott, who has presented the 

 fruits of his own extended explorations in Africa and Asia 

 to the Institution. 



Thus it is manifest that the Smithsonian Institution has 

 contributed to the work of exploring the domain of nature 

 not only directly by setting on foot expeditions supported 

 from its own funds, and indirectly by aiding and equipping 

 numerous government and private expeditions, but more re- 

 motely as well by influencing independent workers to explore 

 in many lands, and to add new treasures to the national col- 

 lections. 



1 " Report of the United States National Museum," 1893, page 665. 



