ACCOUNTS, ESTIMATES, &C. OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 25 



Room I. Ancient Europe and part of North America. — Stone implements from the Drift, 

 the iuo.st a'lcient remains of human industry hitherto discovered ; they include a remarkably 

 fine series from St, Achenl, near Amiens. Antiquities found in the Caves of Dordogne, 

 excavated by Mr. Christy and i\J. Lartet at the expense of the former. This collection 

 is very extensive, and includes a number of drawings on reindeer bone and horn, probably 

 some of the most ancient works of art that have been pieserved ; it would have been 

 still m ire extensive, had it not been known that Mr, Christy intenied to present 

 the unique specimens to the French Museum, an intention which the Trustees under his 

 Will have felt oound to fulfil. Anci'nt stone implements found on the surface in England 

 and Ireland, France, Beloium, and Denmark. The last of these is a remarkable collection, 

 and includes a good series from the Danish Kitchenmiddens. A few specimens from Italy 

 ape also to be found, a valuable collection from the caves at Gibraltar, and specimens 

 from the Swiss Lakes. For convenience a case of ancient stone implements from Asia has 

 been placed in this room, as well as tne more modern implements, dresses, and weapons 

 of the Esquimaux of America and Asia, and of the maritime tribes of the North West 

 Coast of America. These furnish striking illustrations of the remains found in the caves of 

 Dordogne, and pro"e that while the chmate was similar to that of the northern countries 

 in question, the inhabitants of that part of France must have resembled the Esquimaux in 

 their habits and implements. 



Room II. Africa and Asia. — The African Collection is very extensive, and supplies a 

 lacuna in the collections of the Britisli Museum, where there are few objects from this conti- 

 nent. The same may be said of the series from the Asiatic Islands. The collection from Asia 

 Proper is not very numerous ; the races now occupying that continent being generally in a 

 more advanced state of civilisation than that whicii especially mterested Mr. Christy. 

 Attention should, however, be called to two valuable relics from China; an Imperial State 

 Seal cai'ved in jade, and a set of tablets of the same material, on which has been engraved 

 a poem by the Emperor Kien-Lung. 



Room III. Melanesia and Polynesia. — This room contains a valuable collection of 

 weapons, ornaments, and dresses, both from the islands inhabited by the black races of 

 the Pacific, and from those of Polynesia proper. Many of the specimens are of interest, as 

 belonging to a state of culture which has now completely changed, and as illustrating 

 manners and customs that have disappeared before the commerce and the t^'aching of Euro- 

 peans. 



Hall. — Here are placed the larger objects from the Pacific, such as spt ars, clubs, and 

 paddles. The collection of spears is very large and interesting. 



Corridor. Australia and part of North America. — The Australian Collection is very 

 complete, and it would not be easy to replace it, inasmuch as the native races are dwindling 

 in most parts of that continent. 



Room IV. North and South America. — Antiquities and recent implements and dresses 

 from the North American Indians ; ancient Carib implements ; and recent collections from 

 British Guiana, and other parts of South America. The most valuable part of the contents 

 of this room is the collection of Mexican antiquities, whicli is not only extensive, but 

 includes some specimens of great rarity. Among them should be especially mentioned 

 the following : — An axe of Avanturine jade, carved into the form of a hnman figure ; a 

 remarkable knife of white chalcedony; a sacrificial collar formed of a hard greenstone; 

 a squatting figure, of good execution, sculptured out of a volcanic rock; and three remarkable 

 specimens coated with polished stones. The latter consist of a wooden mask covered with a 

 mosaic of blue stones, presumed to be turquoises, but more probably a rare form :.f amazon- 

 stone; a human skull made into a mask, and coated with obsidian and the blue stone men- 

 tioned above ; and a knife with a blade of flint, and with a wooden handle, sculptured to 

 represent a Mexican divinity, and encrusted with obsidian, coral, malachite, and other 

 precious materials. There is also a small but choice collection of Peruvian pottery. 



A catalogue of the collection was privately printed by Mr. Christy in 1862 ; but it em- 

 braces only a small part of the present collection. A more extended catalogue is in pre- 

 paration, of which 3,184 slips have been completed; some of them, however, include a 

 number of specimens. The cases have all been numbered, and black and gilt labels, 57 in 

 number, have been fixed over them, so as to indicate their contents. About 1,150 card labels 

 have been attached to the objects. 



The Trustees of the British Museum entered into possession of the premises in April 

 1866 ; but the arrangement of the vast collection, the fitting up of the cases, and the removal 

 of specimens from Paris and elsewhere, prevented the collection from being opened to the 

 public before the 28th of December. The collection is exhibited on Fridays from 10 to 

 4 o'clock, and admittance is to be obtained by tickets, issued in the hall of the British 

 Museum. The apartments forming part of a private house, it has been necessary to make 

 these restrictions ; and from the temporary state of the arrangements, children under 10 

 years of age are not admitted. 



While the arrangement of the collection was in progress, every facility was given to those 

 who were especially studying the subjects with which it is connected, and upwards of 300 

 visits were paid to the cpllection by such persons before it was publicly opened. 



249. D 4 The 



