764 REPORT— 1894. 



intents and purposes both in structure and function, has pursued a peaceful and 

 useful course of existence, holding meetings at stated periods throughout the session, 

 ■at which papers are read and subjects of interest to anthropologists exhibited and 

 discussed. It has also published a quarterly journal, which has been the principal 

 means in this country of communicating new information upon sucli subjects. The 

 Institute has for twenty-three years performed this duty in a business-like and 

 unostentatious manner, the only remarkable circumstance connected with its history 

 being the singular want of interest taken by the outside world in its proceedings, 

 considering their intrinsic importance to society, especially in an empire like ours, 

 •which more than any other affords a field for the study of man, under almost 

 every aspect of diversity of race, climate, and culture. At the present time it 

 numbers only 305 ordinary members, whose subscriptions atford barely sutficient 

 means to maintain the library and journal in a state of efficiency. The kindred 

 Geographical and Zoological Societies have respectively 3,775 and 2,9S5 fellows, 

 so far greater is the interest taken in the surface of the earth itself, and in the 

 animals which dwell upon it, than in its human inhabitants ! 



Societies similar in their object to that the history of which 1 have just 

 sketched have sprung up, and are now in a more or less flourishiog condition, in 

 every civilised country of the world. But confining our retrospect to our own 

 country, we may take a glance at what has been done in recent years to promote 

 the organised study of Anthropolosry otherwise than by means of this Association 

 (to which I shall refer again later) or the Society of which I have just spoken. 



One of the most potent means of registering facts, and making them available 

 for future study and reference, is to be found in actual collections of tangible 

 objects. To very considerable branches of anthropological science this method of 

 fixing the evidence upon which our knowledge of the subject is based is particu- 

 larly applicable. These branches are mainly two, very distinct from each other, 

 and each representing one of the principal sides in which Anthropology presents 

 itself. 



I. Collections illustrating the physical structure of man, and its variations in 

 the diH'erent races. 



II. Collections showing his characteristic customs and methods of living, his 

 arts, arms and costumes, as developed under ditierent circumstances and also 

 modified by different racial conditions. 



It is very rarely that these two are combined in one general arrangement, and 

 they are almost always studied apart, the characteristics of mind, the general 

 education and special training which are required for the successful cultivation of 

 either being rarely combined in a single individual ; and yet the complete history of 

 any race of mankind, especially with regard to its relation to other races, must be 

 based upon a knowledge both of its physical and psychical characteristics, and 

 customs, habits, language, and tradition largely help, when anatomical characters 

 fail to separate and define. 



The anthropological museums of this country, as well as elsewhere, are all of 

 recent growth, and they are making progress everywhere with steadily accelerating 

 speed. This cannot be better illustrated than in the place where we are at the 

 present time. Many of those who are now in this room can remember when the 

 materials for the study of either branch of the subject in Oxford were absolutely 

 non-existent. I can myself recall the time when the site of the handsome building 

 "which now houses the scientific treasures of the University was a bare field. All 

 ■who know the modern history of Oxford must be aware that it was mainly owing 

 to the enthusiastic zeal and steady perseverance in the cause of scientific education 

 of one who is happily still among us, the veteran Regius Professor of Medicine, 

 Sir Henry Acland, that that building Avas erected. The possession of a well- 

 selected and representative collection illustrating the anatomical characters of the 

 human species is chiefly owing to the energetic labours of Professor Rolleston, 

 one of the brightest and noblest of Oxford's sons, a man of whom I cannot speak 

 without feelings of the strongest affection and most profound regret for his 

 untimely loss to the University and the world. 



The collection illustrating the arts and customs of primitive people the 



