462 
NATURE 
[SEPTEMBER 14, 1899 
importance. But none of them are in the same class 
with Berlin, and as it is with Berlin that London ought 
to measure itself, these short remarks must practically be 
confined to the German capital. 
The KGénigliches Museum fur Volkerkunde is a large 
building completely devoted to ethnographical and pre- 
historical collections: it has three floors, the lowest 
devoted to prehistory ; the first to the collections from 
Africa, Oceania and America ; the second to those from 
Asia. For administrative purposes it is divided into five 
departments: the Prehistoric, the African and Oceanic, 
the American, the Indian, and the Chino-Japanese. 
Each of these departments has a keeper, who usually has 
two assistants under him, so that the scientific staff 
amounts to about twelve men. The museum has an 
annual grant of 50,000 marks, which is supplemented 
upon special occasions by the voluntary gifts of a com- 
mittee of wealthy and patriotic citizens known as the 
“Hilfskomitée.” The value of this unofficial assistance 
can hardly be over-estimated. It makes possible the 
acquisition of exceptionally fine collections when the 
Government grant is not alone sufficient, as in the case 
of Benin, and it provides the means of retaining scientific 
explorers and collectors in outlying parts of the world. 
The museum can thus command the services of well- 
instructed investigators, and is in a position to carry out 
the work of collecting in a systematic and continuous 
manner. Berlin is probably far less dependent on the 
dealer and the unscientific collector than we are in 
London. Altogether the Hilfskomitée appears to be a 
most admirable institution reflecting the greatest possible 
credit upon all concerned. 
The housing of the collections at the Museum fur 
Volkerkunde is also excellent. In addition to extensive 
basements and a domed hall with a gallery running round 
it, there are two large and four smaller rooms on each of 
the three floors. Most of these are lighted from both 
sides, the objects being exhibited in large free-standing 
metal cases with glass shelves, so that none of the speci- 
mens lie in deep shadow. The wall space between the 
windows and at the ends of the rooms is thus available 
for maps and diagrams, of which there are great numbers ; 
there is also room for numerous “mannikins,” or life- 
sized models of representatives of various tribes, all care- 
fully coloured, and dressed and armed in the style of their 
respective countries. These figures, with excellent 
models of houses, canoes and other large objects, and 
with ample and carefully written labels, afford a far more 
vivid picture of primitive life than can be obtained from 
books alone. The arrangement of the collections is 
geographical, but occasionally comparative series, known 
as ‘“‘Vergleichende Gruppen,” are exhibited; this is | 
especially the case in the Indian Section. A library and 
a lecture theatre are important adjuncts to the building, 
and the latter brings the museum into direct connection 
with anthropological teaching. This has obvious ad- 
vantages, for it probably enables the staff to stimulate | 
the interest in ethnology of many students who after- 
wards become connected with Colonial administration. 
Enough has perhaps been said to illustrate the advant- 
ages which Germany enjoys in the acquisition of ethno- 
graphical collections and in the dissemination of 
ethnological knowledge. Compared with our own, her 
position is very striking. We have no independent 
ethnographical museum, for at present we can only use 
for the purpose a section of the Department of 
British and medieval antiquities at the British Museum. 
The officials of this Department, with so many other 
claims upon their attention, cannot be expected to com- 
pete with the organised staff at Berlin, who concentrate 
their whole attention on ethnographical studies. Against | 
continuous and systematic collection we can only set 
occasional and limited acquisitions. Under such con- 
NO. 1559, VOL. 60] 
' exploitation of a Colonial Empire. 
ditions, the race between Great Britain and Germany is a 
race between Argus anda blind man. Nor can we flatter 
ourselves that we are to be eclipsed by Berlin alone ; for 
Leipzig is already a serious rival, and Dresden is con- 
sidering the erection of a new museum of ethnography. 
In numerous other towns there are abundant signs of 
activity. 
If it is asked how it is that the Germans have out- 
stripped us in this manner, several reasons at once sug- 
gest themselves. To begin with, the rapid commercial 
and Colonial expansion of Germany during the last thirty 
years has been the expansion of the best educated people 
in Europe. Thus there has been little tendency to regard 
savage races from the point of view of a popular show, 
and a widespread capacity to assign to primitive culture 
its due scientific importance. If this is the attitude of 
the people as a whole, it is but natural that in officials, 
travellers and merchants a taste for ethnology is easily 
awakened. And as these are the classes in which a 
museum would naturally find its most useful allies, the 
national collections have greatly benefited by their 
interest and co-operation. The introduction to the 
Guide to the Museum fiir V6lkerkunde contains a large 
proportion of official names in its long list of donors. 
Naval and military officers, consuls, doctors and adminis- 
trators, are all conspicuous in their turn. The museum 
has also enjoyed the support of more exalted personages, 
for the German Emperors have all given proof of their 
sympathy upon various occasions. Again, the German 
museums appear in many respects to be worked more 
economically than our own. Their hours of closing are 
early, so that artificial lighting is not required in the 
galleries ; they are also closed during at least one day in 
each week, which enables scientific studies to be carried 
on with the minimum of interruption, and the work of 
cleaning to be executed by a smaller staff. The fittings 
are also arranged with less regard for high finish than 
for practical and serviceable qualities. Finally, the 
wonderful energy and initiative of the veteran Prof. 
Bastian must not be forgotten. He has pressed the 
claims of ethnography with untiring enthusiasm for many 
years, and has had the reward of living to see the museum 
which he directs take the first place among the ethno- 
graphical museums of the world. 
Comparisons are proverbially odious, and that which 
one is compelled to draw between Berlin and London 
is not gratifying to national pride. It is hard to be- 
lieve that we can continue satisfied with present con- 
ditions, and sooner or later a change must come. 
Let all scientific men, whether their immediate in- 
terests lie in the direction of ethnography or not, lend 
their sympathy and support to any movement which 
promises to introduce a new order of things. But 
the old order must be changed quickly, or it may be 
too late. Even now it is doubtful whether we can ever 
make up all the ground which has been lost, for in some 
parts of the world specimens of primitive art are vanish- 
ing with such rapidity that complete collections are per- 
haps unattainable. But a serious effort made at the 
present time would be crowned at least with a com- 
parative success; and the first thing to be done is to 
house in a more satisfactory manner what we already 
possess. It would surely be desirable to unite under one 
roof the collections which illustrate primitive culture, and 
those which illustrate the physical characteristics of the 
different branches of mankind. Meanwhile it should be 
freely admitted that we have much to learn from 
continental nations, for not only Germany but also 
Holland can give us useful lessons in the ethnographical 
But Berlin is the 
model which we should set before our eyes: the frank 
admission of this fact will be the best preliminary to a 
more satisfactory state of affairs. 
