Report of the Curator of the Pitt-Rivers Museum for the year 1902

The work of the Curator has been very seriously hampered through the lack of a skilled assistant, the vacancy created by Mr Gray’s appointment in 1901 to the Taunton Museum not having as yet been filled. This has been unavoidable since it had become imperative to purchase a number of exhibition cases, and this could only be done by utilizing the funds usually set aside for an assistant. The annual grant from the University for the maintenance of this Museum is still quite inadequate to meet even the necessary expenses, and the financial situation cannot but be regarded as highly unsatisfactory, in view of the very important position which the Museum is called upon to occupy among the Ethnological Museums of the world. The value, both intrinsic and scientific, of the collection has greatly increased, and the generosity hitherto shown by the numerous donors has been fully maintained.

In the Court a case has been assigned to some important West African fetish figures and objects associated with them, presented by the Rev. W. Allen, D.D. Apart from their scientific importance, these objects are of historical interest in connexion with the opening up of Southern Nigeria, and the suppression of the gruesome practices connected with the superstitious beliefs of the natives of the region. In this case also has been placed the celebrated fetish figure from Kakongo, bequeathed by Miss Mary Kingsley. A fully descriptive label has been added.

A table-case has been allotted to a portion of the series of charms and magic appliances, giving increased space for the exhibition of this now very important group of objects. This involves a rearrangement of the whole series, to which many very interesting additions have recently been made.

A large upright case, purchased second-hand, has been assigned to the collection of N. African pottery, the bulk of which is formed by the fine series of Kabyle pottery vessels presented by Mr D. Randall-MacIver. The final arrangement of the case has yet to be accomplished.

A case was built for the series of circular shields and targes, which have been separated from the shields of other types and arranged, together with some additions of importance.

An extension of the wall-case containing defensive armour has been made in the north-west angle of the Museum, and this will allow of a better spacing of the specimens.

Two new upright cases have been added, and will be devoted chiefly to the fire-making appliances and the war trophies.

New arrangements have been made for the increasingly important series of Musical Instruments. The reed-instruments have been given increased space by the addition of a special exhibition case, admitting of their classification into morphological groups. In particular, the series of “whizzing-sticks” or “bull-roarers,” to which so much interest attaches, has been greatly expanded, and is becoming very representative. A case, rendered vacant, has been assigned to instruments of the sansa type.

In the Top Gallery a cupboard has been erected for the large collection of boomerangs, some of which will eventually be exhibited, in the form of a type series, upon the adjacent staircase walls.

Elsewhere numerous minor changes and improvements have been effected.

Electric light has been installed on the staircase and in the Curator’s room, workshop, and other rooms. This has proved a very great convenience, though the Museum itself still remains without artificial lighting, a fact which renders the work very difficult during the winter months.

Increasing use is made of the collections by students engaged in research, and a considerable amount of time is devoted by the Curator to visitors interested either in General Ethnology or in special subjects for the study of which the material in the Museum is of importance. Information is also furnished by correspondence, and there is an increasing demand for photographs of specimens, a demand which with the present arrangements it is difficult to meet.

Dr. A.B. Meyer, the director of the Royal Museums at Dresden, made a special visit to this Museum with a view to studying the methods of arrangement, and he subsequently sent over one of his chief assistants for the same purpose. In the official report which he published upon the Museums visited during his tour of inspection, Dr. Meyer testifies to his appreciation of the methods adopted here and to the work so far accomplished, the verdict of so eminent an authority being a testimonial of considerable value.
    
The accessions have been very numerous, and in many cases important. Specially noteworthy is the extensive series of objects kindly collected for the Museum by Mr. T. Nelson Annandale during his travels with Mr. H.C. Robinson in the Lower Siamese States in 1901. The collection is very comprehensive, and was made at very small cost, the cost price of the greater number of the specimens being ridiculously low. Through the great kindness of Mr. Alfred Holt, Messrs W. Mansfield & Co. Shipped the collection to Liverpool freight free, and, through this courteous act, a considerable saving of expense was effected. A number of specimens were also presented by Messrs. Annandale and Robinson. Special reference may be made to series of specimens given by Mr. Worthington Smith from his splendid private collection. Several gaps in the Museum series were filled through his kind help. The Committee of the Egypt Exploration Fund has again sent a series of objects discovered during Professor W. Flinders Petrie’s excavations. The small series of S. Australian specimens given by Mr. John Bagot proved very interesting additions to some of the Museum groups.
    
Detailed list of the accessions are given below. The condition of the roof of the building has been far from satisfactory, and the want of convenient access to the roof, for purposes of frequent inspection is much felt. Until this obvious defect is remedied there is likely to be constant trouble with the roof glazing, and frequent expense.


ACCESSIONS BY DONATION.
Lancashire clog-shoe with " spindle " for skating. Presented by G.H. Fowler, Esq., D.Sc., 58 Bedford Gardens, London, W. Blanket woven by women of the Western Lengua tribe, Paraguayan Chaco. Presented by Seymour Hawtrey, Esq., Windsor. Several worked flints and flakes, palaeolithic and neolithic, from Iffley, Oxon, and from Limpsfield. Presented by A.M. Bell, Esq., M.A., Rawlinson Road, Oxford. Kava-root, Fiji; shell ornament, New Caledonia; shell ornament and 2 darts, Admiralty Islands; wooden hair-pin and 2 women's spears, Humboldt Bay, New Guinea; 2 palm- leaf arrows, Kei Islands; foot-rest of stilt, Marquesas Islands; pair of women's boots, Disco, Greenland; tobacco-pipe, Japan; votive candle, Wazan, Morocco. Presented by Mrs. H.N. Moseley, St. Margaret's Road, Oxford. Elaborate charm-pendant with coins, plaques and tokens, Corea. Presented by Capt. W. Mayhew, R.N. Drum of gourd and raw-hide, 8 ornamented gourd bowls, gourd rattle, engraved gourd, and other vessels made from gourds and string-work, Assouan market, Egypt; photograph of Algerian Kabyles. Presented by D. Randall-MacIver, Esq., M.A., Worcester College, Oxford. Large cut walrus tusk engraved with figures of animals, &c., Alaskan Eskimo; 16 photographs of Alaskan ivories; 4 bark-cloth mallets, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands; cast of very large celt found near Warrington, Lancs.; photograph of Viking ship. Presented by R.D. Darbishire, Esq., Victoria Park, Manchester.
2 sounding-reeds made from natural reed cylinders, China; hsiao erh primitive reed musical instrument, Shanghai. Presented by Rev. F.W. Galpin, M.A., Harlow, Essex. 2 native-made clay figures of a Kaffir and a Hottentot, S. Africa. Presented by F.C. Conybeare, Esq., M.A., 13 Norham Gardens, Oxford.  Brass tinder-box of Dutch type, used by Essington King during his explorations in Australia; specimen of nardoo plant, Australia; boar's tusk, New Zealand. Presented by Mrs. Moseley, Tackley, Oxon. Bow and 5 arrows used by jungle Kanikars, Travancore; crossbow used by Ulladans, Travancore. Presented by Edgar Thurston, Esq., Director of the Government Museum, Madras. Fishing trimmer with line, Santa Cruz Islands; decorated hair-comb made by inland natives of Malanta, Solomon Islands. Presented by Rev. R.H. Codrington, D.D., St. Richard's Walk, Chichester. 10 flint flakes from threshing boards, Smyrna; axe-adze with shell blade, Funafuti, Micronesia. Presented by Prof. W.J. Sollas, F.R.S., University Museum, Oxford. Friesland skate; 9 glass imitations of native ornaments made in Austria for trading with natives; whizzing-stick, Suffolk; flint arrow-head which used to be boiled in water given to cattle to cure them of disease, and naturally perforated pebble hung as a charm in cowsheds, Co. Antrim, Ireland; " musical bow," Zululand; 2 pastoral call pipes, Dalarne, Sweden; “whit-horn" of bark, Oxfordshire; 2 whistles of willow, Oxfordshire; 2 small human heads in pottery showing cranial deformation, ancient Mexican; 3 stone adze blades, rare greenstone lime spatula, and 5 large carved "whizzing-sticks" or "bull-roarers” and 7 others smaller and plain, New Guinea; imitation flint implement, Brandon, Suffolk; 9 arrows from various localities; "snurl" or ball made from a fungus and used in a game resembling rounders, c. 1840, Baldons, Oxon; sledge-runner made from a very fine walrus tusk, Western Eskimo; carved wooden whistle, Berne, Switzerland; bird-shaped whistle of pottery, Paris; mustard spoon made frorn a pig's fibula, Brandon, Suffolk; notched stick used for keeping the score of lambs born, Redditch, Worcestershire; glass imitation cowries and other shells made in Austria for trade with natives ; memorial cake made in 1901, Biddenden, Kent; collection of 31 flint implements (celts, hammer stones, lance heads, chisel, discoidal knives, scrapers, implement of palaeolithic type, &c.) found at Brandon Park, Suffolk. Presented by the Curator, Henry Balfour, Esq., M.A. The following from E. Equatorial Africa: snuff-boxes of horn and bamboo, Wakamba, Ukambani; iron razor, Upper Congo; woman's necklet of hide and bead-work, Arusha, Kilimanjaro; 2 Chagga armlets of iron and copper, Masai. Iand; 2 fringed girdles, Upper Congo; jingling armlet and pottery pipe-bowl, Mobangi River; Bateke basket, Congo; wicker shield, Upper Congo; brass-mounted spear and woman's grass cloth, Upper Congo. The following from West Africa: Yoruba magician's rattle wand; Yoruba grass- work cap; Yoruba native cloth and 2 carved calabashes; raw-hide box, Haussaland; hide fan, Lagos; carved wood comb, 3 bronze " manillas " used as money, and basketry dish-cover, Bonny, Nigeria; Haussa costume; carved wood idol, Abo, Niger River; national idol of the people of Asaba, Niger River, taken in war by the Royal Niger Company in1888, elaborately carved; very old carved idol, 2 sacred trumpets of elephant tusk, 2 bronze figures of iguanas (sacred animal), bronze gong of peculiar shape, 5 fragments of human skulls and lower jaws (remains of sacrifices at the ikuba or shrine, these were taken from the skull-temple at Bonny in 1888). A number of articles of costume worn by Arabs and Bedouin in Palestine. SmalI basket of palm fibre, grass broom and model pestle and mortar from the Seychelles. Presented by the Rev. W. Allan, D.D.  2 potsherds from a Mandan village, Missouri, U.S.A, Presented by H. Ward, Esq., 12 Norham Gardens, Oxford. 9 arrows of the Pigmies of the Central African forest; 3 carved lime spatulae, S.E. New Guinea; 2 pearl-shell fish- hooks, Solomon Islands. Presented by Norman Hardy, Esq. 2 large decorated pottery vessels made by Kabyles in the district between Philippeville and Constantine. Presented by Mrs. Eustace Smith, High Coxleaze, Lyndhurst, Hants. Stone spear-hcad, 6 scrapers and flakes from the Umzinto River, Natal. Presented by the Rev. J.R. Ward, Utterby House, Utterby, Louth, Lincs. Bangle of giraffe's hair, Ba Tawana tribe, Ngamiland, Africa. Collected by Major Minchin, D.S.O. Presented by Prof. E.A. Minchin, M.A., University College, London.
 Large tobacco-pipe and native tobacco, Shilluk Tribe, White Nile; long woven belt ornamented with shell discs and feathers, Upper California; cleverly repaired clay pipe, Tipperary, Ireland. Presented by Donald Gunn, Esq., B.M., 4 Dover Street, London, W. 9 palaeolithic implements of flint from the quarry gravels at Savernake, Wilts. Presented by Edgar Willett, Esq., 25 Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square, London, W. 6 fine palaeoliths, Upper and Lower Clapton and Walthamstow; 6 examples illustrating the building up of the original block of flint by replacement of flakes found on a palaeolithic site on Caddington Hill, Herts; 3 rough palaeoliths from the " contorted drift," Caddington Hill; 3 much-rolled palaeoliths from Wanstead, Little Barton, and Broom; 2 naturally perforated pebbles, Dunstable; 8 pointed wooden " calthrops " from a bog on Connor Hill, Co. Kerry; 2 unfinished palaeoliths, Stoke Newington Common and Upper Clapton; 6 palaeolithic flint "scrapers" or ' side-tools," Abney Park cemetery, Stoke Newington, Lower Clapton, and Hanwell; palaeolithic hammer-stone, Warren Hill, Suffolk; large worked flint showing non-glacial striae, Stoke Newington Common; 6 specimens of palaeolithic flakes imbedded in the clay, as found on Caddington Hill; 3 palaeoliths, Kempston, Bedfordshire; 2 ditto, Southampton; 2, white pebbles from an ossuary, St. Pol de Léon, Brittany, 2 photographs of Brittany ossuaries. Presented by Worthington G. Smith, Esq., 121 High Street South, Dunstable, Herts. Neolithic flint core, Resugga Castle, Cornwall. Presented by D.F. Campbell, Esq., New College, Oxford. The following specimens from the New Hebrides group:— 15 war clubs and 8 spears from various islands; spear-head, Malekula; 3 bows, Malekula and Shepherd Group; 3 arrows, Malekula; native-hafted trade axe-blade, Malekula; adze haft, Tongariki; 2 dance clubs, Malekula. 3 arrows from the Solomon Islands obtained at Malekula; woman's paddle, Rubiana; paddle, Ugi Island, Solomon Islands; 2 native drawings, New Georgia; small Fuegian bow, Straits of Magellan. Presented by Commander B.T. Somerville, R.N., Drishane, Skibbereen, Co. Cork. 2 "may-horns" of spirally twisted willow bark, Somersetshire Presented by C. Welch, Esq., M.A., Wadham College, Oxford. Symbolic " hand of Fatima," Tlemcen, Algeria; 2 pottery lamps, pottery sling-stone, and Punic votive stele, from Carthage. Presented by F.F. Tuckett, Esq., M.A., Frenchay, near Bristol. Stone adze-blade, Viti Levu, Fiji Islands; 2 ditto, Solomon Islands. Presented by Graham Balfour, Esq., M.A., Worcester College, Oxford.  Flint curiously worked to a long point, Low Desert, near Bet Khallaf, Egypt; large number of miscellaneous flint implements and flakes also fragments of stone vases, &c., from Bet Khallaf and elsewhere in Egypt. Presented by J. Garstang, Esq., M.A. Coin presented at a wedding as "bride money," Everingham, York. Presented by J. Rickaby, Esq., B.Sc. Embroidered sheep-skin coat worn by Persian men. Presented by Alexander Finn, Esq.,H.B.M. Consul, Malaga, Spain. Photograph of Hispano-Mauresque dish. Presented by H.St.G. Gray, Esq., Curator of the Museum, Taunton. 2 hollow-scrapers of flint and 4 worked flake knives, Co. Antrim. Presented by W.J. Knowles, Esq., Ballymena, Co. Antrim.  Hollow flint scraper, Braid, Co. Antrim; several rude flint implements and flakes, Larne, Co. Antrim. Presented by G. Coffey, Esq., 5 Harcourt Terrace, Dublin. Specimens secured during, Prof. W. Flinders Petrie's excavations in Egypt, 1901-2, viz.: Graeco-Roman from tombs in the Fayum two-handled flask of pottery, 15 large ivory beads, wooden spindle with whorl, large wooden weaving- comb, small wooden clapper, cup of cone-shell, grass-work hat of fine make, harness cords of rope and leather, bronze ring, ostrich quills, wooden pegs, and iron knife. From the Osiris Temenos at Abydos: pounding-stone (O dynasty), 2 ditto (New Kingdom), flint flake with cement at base (1 dynasty), 2 grinding- stones for shaping stone vases (1 dynasty), spindle whorl (O dynasty), 2 clay heads of apes (O dynasty), duck's head of pottery (New Kingdom), pottery model of haunch (XII dynasty), limestone figure of a potter (XII dynasty), unfinished limestone bust of a king (New Kingdom), bronze arrow-head (XIX dynasty), model brick inscribed with name " Ra-nah-ab," from foundation deposit (XXVI dynasty), bronze door-socket (XVIII dynasty), broad iron sword, red paint, haematite and blue paint. Presented by the Committee of the Egypt Exploration Fund.  "cra-hooks " for twisting straw ropes, Co. Antrim and Co. Donegal; rope made from roots of fir-trees, Co. Donegal. Presented by R. Welch, Esq., Belfast.  Oyster-shell lamp, Gower, Glamorganshire. Presented by T.H. Thomas, Esq., 45 The Walk, Cardiff.  Elaborately decorated head-harness for a horse, Sicily. Presented by R.T. Gunther, Esq., M.A., Magdalen College, Oxford. Old padlock of obsolete form, Stanton Harcourt, Oxon; threshing-flail, Broomfield, Essex. Presented by Miller Christy, Esq., Chelmsford. Large globular horse-bell, temp. William IV, Oxford. Presented by T.W. Taphouse, Esq., Magdalen Street, Oxford. 7 English fiddle-bows, 18th and early 19th centuries, by Dodd and Thomas Smith. Presented by E. S. Fry, Esq., 55 Wheeley's Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham. Specimens collected in the Malay Peninsula in 1901, viz.: Powder-horn, Jarum, Rhaman; lading, curved chopping- sword, Lakon; iron jew's-harp, Trang; charm necklet with inscribed rolls of metal, Trang; toy boat of cocoanut husk, an imitation of the " spirit " ships used for casting off diseases. Kuala, Patani; spirit swords buried with deceased to fight spirits with, Sacred Caves, Trang; set of 4 obsolete Siamese coins; 2 coins said to be Annamite; bronze slug-shaped currency, Laos; priest's spoon of nautilus-shell, Trang; 2 wooden rice stirrers, Pulau Mentia, Trang; set of jungle-fowl snares, Kantang, Trang. Presented by the collector, T.N. Annandale, Esq., B.A., 34 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh. Specimens collected in the Malay Peninsula in 19O1, viz.: Pisau sembilan, bamboo knife for severing the umbilical cord and stone for heating and applying to women after child-birth, Kampong Jalor; charmed cocoanut shell hung up in plantations as sign to warn thieves away, Jambu, Jering; "spirit-ship" for casting away disease, Cape Patani; palm leaf stage for offerings to water spirits, Jambu, Jering; objects from a "spirits' audience chamber " including model weapons, bird and prawn of palm-leaf, &c., Cape Patani; model of prisoner's yoke hung up as a warning to thieves, Cape Patani; model spear, kris and rod, hung up to warn people against allowing cattle to stray along a certain piece of road, Kampong Jalor; sankak or offering to spirits from a cemetery, Patani town; 8 figures cut out of stout leaves to imitate Wayang Kulit shadow dance figures and used by children in the same way, Ban Phrah Muang, Trang. Presented by Messrs. T.N. Annandale and H.C. Robinson (Holmfield, Aigburth, Liverpool). 2 elaborately made Chinese paper kites. Presented by Lady Blake. 2 bokotu, emblems formerly carried by members of the medical profession, Japan. Presented by J. Cole Hartland, Esq., Highgarth, Gloucester. Bamboo monochord musical instrument, fan of areca palm spathe, bamboo filter, bamboo paint-mortar, fish-trap of wicker-work, cord of plaited bark, Nicobar Islands. Presented by Colonel Sir R.C. Temple, Bart., Port Blair, Andaman Islands. Pair of obsolete hand wool-combs in use about 50 years ago, Wellington, Somerset. Presented by F.T. Elworthy, Esq., Foxdown, Wellington, Somerset. 3 stone knives with gum handles, unhafted stone axe, 5 wooden whizzing-sticks or "bull-roarers," dilly-bag of string-work, 2 grass fishing-nets, grass used in making nets, 2 kurdaitcha shoes of emeu feathers and human hair, 5 feather head-ornaments, neck-cord with tails of kangaroo-rat, string- work fringe, and neck ornament work by women, string made from rabbit's fur, Lake Eyre district, S. Australia; pod of "Queensland chestnut" (Catanospermum flavum), coast of Queensland; photographs of Australian natives. Presented by John Bagot, Esq., Adelaide, S. Australia. 6 wooden "bull-roarers," Bedford, Needingworth, and St. Ives districts, Huntingdonshire and Nottingham; hop-tally, Boughton Blean, East Kent; 5 metal tokens representing portions of basket of hops picked, from 1/2 to 5 bushels, same locality. Presented by Miss F. E. Ogden, 95 High Street, Oxford. Stock of a cross-bow from Oboru Kitty, Nigeria; elaborate iron spear, Nigeria; iron spear, Bassa Country, near Lokoja, Nigeria. Presented by G. F. Martin, Esq., C.S., Northern Nigeria. Decorated head-harness for a horse, 2 iron horse-bits, 2 ditto with reins of elaborately plaited leather, pair of iron pricket purs, pair of brass rowel-spurs, Mandingo, Gambia River, W. Africa. Presented by Sir George Denton, K.C.M.G., Government House, Gambia. Pin-fire sporting gun, two-barrelled, with complete equipment, English make. Presented by Prof. E.B. Poulton, D.Sc., F.R.S., University Museum, Oxford. Nodule of iron dug up by peasants at Trins, Graubunden, Grisons, Switzerland, and preserved in the house as a protection against lightning, in the belief that it was a thunderbolt. Presented by Mrs. John Addington Symonds, Colwell Lodge, Lyme Regis, Dorset. Medal-shaped calendar for the year 1816, English. Presented by the Rev. H.E.D. Blakiston, B.D., Trinity College, Oxford. 8 hafted axes of the types made by the Khonds of Ganjam, India; small axe, Vedda, Ceylon; 5 bamboo bows and 2 arrows, India. From the British Museum, Bloomsbury, London.

ACCESSIONS BY PURCHASE.
Specimens collected by Mr. S.H.C. Hawtrey in the Paraguayan Chaco, S. America, viz.: skin cloaks, blanket, ornaments, engraved gourds, musical instruments, pipes, doll, &c, Lengua, Suhin, Ai, and Towothli Indians. [From the collector.] 3 "bull-roarers," sago-adze, shell ornaments, New Guinea; shell and turtle shell ornament, St. John's Island, New Britain; bark-cloth mallet and block, French Guinea; harpoon and currency-spear, Congo River; drill-socket, Eskimo; spring trap, Borneo; ancient sling-bolts, N.Italy; slung-ball of tridacna shell, Gilbert Islands, Pacific; modern spear-thrower Tarascan, Lake Patzcuaro, Mexico. [Webster.]  cases, Magdala, Abyssinia; Arab cornelian bead; miscellanea from Peruvian graves; bronze knife, Hebron ; flint saws, El Arush, Palestine; flint scraper, L. Neuchatel; ditto, showing three patinations, Suffolk; patinated " facing " flint, Erith; bone spike, London Wall; small shears, double cloak-hook, bronze lock-bolt, bronze netting-needles, and needles, London Wall excavations; ancient leaden astragal, Greece. The following from ancient graves, Peru (Chencay,&c.): 6 human figures in pottery, bone awls, bone dagger- and knife, bone flute, small balance beam of carved bone, ear-plugs of palm leaf, pottery and wood, pottery figure of a warrior, 9 pottery vessels, some elaborately decorated. [Lawrence.] Taoist iron knife with jingling handle, inscribed, China. [Parker.]  Polished neolithic celt, Chesterton, near Leamington. [R. H. Bedford.] 3 Chinese whistling-arrows; old military fife, English; walking-stick flute, English; clarionet, English; aeolian harp, English; converted 5-stringed viol, English; ancient sistrum and small cymbals, Palestine. [Mr. T.W. Taphouse.] Natural flint curiously pitted, Minster; flint implements from Mongewell and Grim's Bank, near Wallingford, Berks. [Carter.] Chinese " knife " money, " bell-cash " and circular " cash "; 5 bronze pendants worn for good luck, China and Corea. [Tregaskis.] Sago-adze, jaw-bones of wallaby used as chisels, cyrena shell knives, bone needles, palm-leaf stopper, jew's-harp, shell arm-ornaments, pig-killing spear, Collingwood Bay, British New Guinea. [Rev. W. Abbot.] Bechuana dolls, arrow-heads of bone, porcupine quill and wood, wicker skimming spoons, S. Africa; adze with revolving stone blade, jews'-harps, carrying bags, British New Guinea; 5 carved drums, 9 stone adze-blades, 6 carved cocoanut-shell charms, 8 carved waist belts, cassowary-bone daggers and knives, British New Guinea; carved wood bird, New Ireland; 3 painted wooden spoons and one ladle of sheep's horn, N. W. America. The following from ancient Peruvian graves (Chencay): 9 human figures in pottery, 10 pottery vases, 2 corn cobs in stone, wooden spoon and bobbins, 3 pottery whistles, gourd flask, 12 pottery stamps, 2 copper fish-hooks, 5 copper needles, imitation eyes from mummies, ear-plugs of leaf and wood, 2 bone flutes. [Stevens' auction rooms.] 2 carved ornaments from canoe models, Maori, New Zealand. [Bought in Belfast.] Carved spear-thrower, Victoria, Australia; carved wooden club, ? Samoa. [Cubitt and Sons.] Blackfoot Indian willow-rod pillow, mocassins, wooden dish, raw-hide travelling case for clothing, N. America. [Rev. W. Bonehill.] Collection of about 600 objects made by Mr. T. Nelson Annandale during his scientific expedition to the Lower Siamese States in I 901. The specimens were specially collected for the.Museum, and include: a large number of krises, sheath knives, daggers, chopping knives, sting-ray spine dagger, chopping swords,parangs, spears, cudgel, bow and arrow, pellet-bows, gunpowder-flasks and sieve; musical instruments including several fiddles, rude instruments of bamboo with strings made from the bamboo itself and others with separate strings, primitive monochord, drums, rattles, bells, gongs, jews'-harps, oboes, flutes, flageolets, whistles, horn trumpet, clay whistles in form of animals, bamboo pigeon-call; collection of toys and games including shadow- dance puppets of cardboard and leaves, doll, moving animal figures, basket work models, toy bulls of cocoanut husk for "bull fighting," model weapons and tools, variety of tops, seeds used as "skittles," chess-men, rattan foot-ball, toy boats, kites, windmills, &c.; theatrical and ceremonial properties including masks, weapons, complete model of native theatre with figures, ceremonial objects used at weddings, &c.; magic appliances, viz.: charms to keep away spirits, charms for cure and prevention of diseases, charm against snake bite, stone charm to make rice grow, stone adzes believed to be thunder-bolts and used as charms against lightning and for sharpening knives upon, magic cloth, magic warning signs against trespassers, "rice-souls," &c.; a variety of traps and snares, lime twigs, fishing appliances, flaps for catching grasshoppers, &c.; objects used in cock-fighting contests, including water- clock with bamboo gong, steel cock-spurs and sharpening hones, &c.; varieties of hand-made and wheel-made pottery; weighing-beams of types similar to the " bismar "; smoking and betel-chewing appliances; " coin-tree " as cast in the mould and used as money; varieties of basket-work and specimens illustrating manufacture; filters; cooking vessels; spoons and rice-stirrers; drinking vessels; water-carriers; oil pump; boat bailer of limulus shell; pillows; variety of toilet apparatus; hats, foot-gear and clothing; ornaments ; tools used in making sheaths for krises, and for other purposes, adzes, files, &c.; netting apparatus; cotton-preparing instruments, spindles and winding apparatus; model loom, number of bamboo shuttles, shuttle-stands, samples of cloth and dyeing apparatus; string-making gear; agricultural implements and models; model mill; model sailing boat; boat ornaments; lamps of Malay and Chinese make, dammar-torch and stand, 2 fire-pistons, stick-and-thong fire-making apparatus, bamboo fire-saw; fire-blower; funeral urn; figures of Buddha; model Malay house; Sakai and Semang objects, viz.: blow-guns with quivers and darts, &c., ornaments, bark- cloth, bark-mallet, baskets, water-vessel, trap, club, &c.

ACCESSIONS BY EXCHANGE.
7 sets of objects used in local variations upon the game of "knucklebones ("astragals”), Suffolk, Surrey, Kent, London, Dundee, Glasgow, and Holland. [From E. Lovett, Esq.]

ACCESSIONS ON LOAN.
7 silver ex voto figures and symbols, offered at temples in Malabar, S. W. India; mouth-organ, Saribas Dyaks, Borneo. [From the Curator, H. Balfour, Esq., M.A.] 2 carved wooden clubs, Brazil; bow, Guiana; Malay kris; dha, Assam; 3 Indian tulwars; two-edged sword, sabre, 2 curved daggers, flamboyant dagger, 2 transverse-handled daggers and single-edged dagger, India. [From the Bodleian Library.]

HENRY BALFOUR


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