REPORT OF ASSISTANT DIRECTOR. 57 



A prominent characteristic of his work has been the introduction of 

 regular Boientiflc methods Into anthropological inquiries, treatiDg each 

 savage art as the anatomist or embryologisl treats his subject. 



The energy of Professor .Mason has already produced important re- 

 sults in that the ethnological collections, never before under control, 



have already been provisionally classified. In the present report are 

 presented three papers emanating from this department — on the bas- 

 ketry, throwing st icks, and bows in the National Museum — and it is 

 much to be hoped that the method of investigation and publication 

 foreshadowed in these papers will be prosecuted until the, discussion of 

 the whole round of savage art as exemplified in our collections shall 

 have been completed. 



During the year 3,658 specimens belonging to primitive races have 

 been received. In addition to these this depart ment has been intrusted 

 with many objects registered in other catalogues and deposited here 

 for the sake of completing evolutionary series of implements, processes, 

 and art products. The most noteworthy accessions in 1884 were as 

 follows : 



Illustrations of Eskimo and Indian life, from Ungava Bay and vi- 

 cinity, by Lucien Turner, who will prepare a monograph upon the 

 specimens. 



Illustrations of Eskimo life at Point Barrow, collected by Lieutenant 

 Ray, U. S. A. Mr. John Murdoch will describe these. 



Rich collections from the Eskimo of Western and Southern Alaska, 

 by E. W. Nelson, W. J. Fisher, Charles L. McKay, and Baron Norden- 

 skjdld. 



Specimens of the arts of the tribes of Northwest America, collected 

 by James G. Swan and Lieut. T. Dix Bolles. 



Many objects illustrative of the modern Indians of Yucatan, by Louis 

 H. Ayme\ 



A very large and instructive collection ef objects from the Peruvian 

 huacas, by George W. Keifer, and Dr. William H. Jones, U. S. N. 



A collection of weapons &c, from New Guinea, purchased from A. P. 

 Goodwin. 



An exchange series of weapons from Polynesia, contributed by 

 Charles Heape. 



During the year illustrative series of ethnological objects have been 

 exhibited at Cincinnati, Louisville, and New Orleans, care being taken 

 in each case to impress some ethnological truth, such as distribution of 

 types, the effect of environment, the treatment of the same art by dif- 

 ferent tribes, or the progress of an art from its infancy to its highest 

 manifestation. This special collection was displayed in 120 unit boxes, 

 17 double unit boxes. :;7 costume boxes, and 2 slope tables. In addi- 

 tion, 1 model of an Eskimo house, 1 model of a Haida house, and 2 

 Indian busts were sent. 



