REPORT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF ETHNOLOGY IN THE NATIONAL 



MUSEUM, 1887. 



By Otis T. Mason, Curator. 



During the fiscal year 1886-'87 the Department of Ethnology has re- 

 ceived many important additions. Chief among these may be mentioned 

 a beautiful series of Greenland costumes, from Mrs. Lilla May Pavy ; a 

 collection of costumes and implements from northern Alaska, from Mr. 

 E. P. Herendeen ; many valuable articles from Kotzebue Sound, given by 

 Lieut. George M. Stoney, IT. S. Navy; Mr. S. Applegate's collection from 

 Togiak River, Alaska ; Mr. J. W. Johnson's collection from Fort Alex- 

 ander, Alaska; Mr. William J. Fisher's collection from Ugashik, Alaska; 

 Mr. Charles Willoughby's collection from the Quinaielt Indians, Wash- 

 ington Territory ; an immense number of ethnological objects from the 

 Zuni and Mold pueblos, secured by Col. James Stevenson and the Bureau 

 of Ethnology. A collection of rare and valuable specimens from the 

 Congo region, brought by Lieut. E. H. Taunt, U. S. Navy; many precious 

 objects from China and Japan, the gift of Dr. D. Bethune McCartee ; 

 and an exceedingly valuable series from the Department of Education 

 in Japan, illustrating the common industries of that country. 



The last-named series especially illustrates a method of collecting 

 which the curator thinks should supersede, as far as possible, that 

 which has formerly prevailed. 



In following out this plan, the curator has sought to procure com- 

 plete " outfits" of varied industries, with many pictures of steps in art 

 processes, and minute detail of everything done and said from begin- 

 ning to end. All of these furnish a poly organic unit, to which desul- 

 tory material may be referred. 



In pursuance of the plan hitherto adopted of elaborating series of 

 specimens on purely natural history principles, the cradles of the Mu- 

 seum, the scrapers of American savages, and the carrying apparatus 

 pertaining to the human pack-animal have been arranged and described. 



The chief labor of this department during the year, however, and the 

 one of most lasting value, is the arrangement of the entire Eskimo col- 

 lection according to our system, by Lieut. T. Dix Bolles, U. S. Navy. 



65 

 H. Mis. 600, pt. 2 5 



