REPORT. 



WHEN it was decided that the Director of the Bishop 

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

 tion, or rather of inquiry, to the principal ethnological 

 collections 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 very important work in Europe before the heat of 

 summer made the more southern museums unbearable. It was 

 also recognized that some museums connected with educational 

 institutions would probably be closed during the summer vacation. 

 There was little time for preparation before sailing from Honolulu 

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

 journey to Australia and New Zealand, where very important 

 museums dealing largely with the Pacific region (which limits the 

 scope of the Bishop Museum) had made important changes since 

 the last official visit 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 knowledge gained in former journeys, but even after elimi- 

 nating certain collections of minor importance that could not pos- 

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

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

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

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

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

 many business arrangements of such an extensive and hurried trip. 

 The alternative suggested itself of visiting only the new museums, 

 and those not fully examined on his first visit in [896, 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, wheh might do for a less 

 important mission. I '5 1 I 3 





