REPORT. 



WHEN it was decided that the Diredior of the Bishop 

 Museum should for a second time make a visit of inspec- 

 tion, or rather of inquiry, to the principal ethnological 

 collecflions both in America and Europe it was so late in the season 

 that it was necessary to pass rapidly through the United States 

 and finish the yery important work in Europe before the heat of 

 summer made the more southern museums unbearable. It was 

 also recognized that some museums connecfted with educational 

 institutions would probably be closed during the summer vacation. 

 There was little time for preparation before sailing from Honohilu 

 on April loth, 191 2, and although it was decided to continue the 

 journey to Australia and New Zealand, where yery important 

 museums dealing largely with the Pacific region (which limits the 

 scope of the Bishop Museum) had made important changes since 

 the last official yisit in 1896, the plans were not elaborated fully 

 until reaching Boston ten days after sailing from Honolulu. 



The general itinerary had been sketched and the time that 

 could be allotted to each station determined in the beginning by 

 the knovyledge gained in former journeys, but eyen after elimi- 

 nating certain collecftions of minor importance that could not pos- 

 sibly be brought within the date fixed in the Diredtor's mind for 

 the return to Honolulu, it appeared that the work remaining could 

 not be properly done single-handed, and with the urgent adyice 

 of family and friends the Direcftor decided to take with him, on his 

 own responsibility, a secretary to take notes and relieye him of the 

 many business arrangements of such an extensiye and hurried trip. 

 The alternative suggested itself of visiting only the new museums, 

 and those not fully examined on his first visit in 1S96, but the remem- 

 brance of the grand work being done in almost all of the museums 

 seen then, and the promise this gave of still farther improvement, 

 led the Director to abandon this plan, whch might do for a less 

 important mission. [151] 3 



