New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-03
AN PATHOLOGICAL SHOW.
WORK OF THE NORTH PACIFIC COAST
INDIANS.
crocp .p1ucAtLy If NOT BY DESCENT. A LINK
BETWEEN ASIATIC AND AMEh-
ICAN RACES.

Nowhere i'm the world is there such a large
ard representative collection of the handlworK
~ the Indians OF the North Pacific Coast OF
America as that in the north hall of the Amer
lean Museum of Natural History which was
opened last Thursday. This is only potloh
OF the chronological and archaeological ha'erlai
already in the possession OF that lnstltulloh'
and important additions are being made TO the
store every year Thus an exceptional oasis II
afforded for study by anthropologsts Oh 'he
abOrigines Of this continent and their relation
Ships with other branches of the human lamly'
AT least three different races seem to have
lived on this continent" said Professor f. W.
Putnam, curator Of the department OF anthro-
pology at the museum, the other day 'one OF
them is palcothic man and it would be boIu
venture to say what his origin was. Secondly
we think we recognize traces OF people thd'
came TO America across the Atlantic anu
thirdly there are alIinities with the Asiatic
stock II is with the hope Of more clearly re-
voaling these last mentioned affnities that so
much attention is being given just now 10 the
tribes that live along the North Pacific Coast.
DIT Franz Boaa Professor Putnam's assistant,
who has had charge Of this branch of the
museums work. subsequently supplied some de-
tails in regard to the exhibits IN the reopen ID
north hall Said he:
About two-thir1s Of the material there has
rcver before been shown to the public. The
first important contribution to this division Of
our material was the Bishop collection. placed
in the museum twenty years ago. Then came
the rimmcns collection. But as the public we'll
knows. a vast number of objects have been Oh
tanned 10y the successive expeditions sent out
by Morris * Jesup president of the museum.
These have been collected in a systematic and
careful manner. which fact greatly enhances
their educational value.
In the classification and arrangement OF TINS
material too, pains have been taken to make
the exhibit ineligible and connected. Spec-
mems have been obtained from more than fifty
tribes but these are arranged In six large
typical groups. We begin with the Indians Of
Vancouver and take those Of the coast up very
near to the Alaskan peninsula. There is also a
group which represents tribes living up in the
mountain region, somewhat removed from the
coast
'"Thc objects which were obtained from living
people and which show the life Of to-day are
separated from the antiquities Of the same re
Pion. What are called the chronological speci-
mems are placed in wall cases, and the arcnae-
illogical material in the low fiat ones. II would
not bc easy 10 say exactly now olu tHe dHthIul-
ties are. but inasmuch as some Of them were
taken from underneath shell heaps fifteen feet
deep it would probably not be an eXaggeration
10 call them at least fifteen hundred years old.
Memoirs describing these collections and CON
tanning numerous illustrations have been pre-
pared for issue among the publications Of the
museum -Four Of these have already appeared
One relates to facial painting. another to the
mythology OF the Bella Coda Indians a third to
decorative art and the fourth to archaeology
TWO other treatises are now in press and are
likely to appear soon. Fully six more are pro-
jccted."
one Of the most striking objects which the
visitor encounters as he enters the north hall
Of the museum at present is a group of life size
clay figures showing the home life OF "A North
Pacific Coast Indian. In the centre is a rude
fireplace ana about it are men and women
gagged in weaving shaping paddles for boat,
decorative work and kindred pursuits. a pap
pOose swings in "A hammocklike cradle. In their
costumes and the modelling Of their features
these figures represent the originals with great
fidelity.
Another impressive object in the hall is "A huge
canoe obtained from the Bella Coda Indians
Several small canoes are also shown there. On
top Of many of the upright cases are huge
carved figures resembling real or imaginary
animals. ana sngularly erotosque Some of
them are brilliantly colored Immense numbers
of implements used in fishing and hunting. in
domestic labor in religious ceremonies and IN
warfare ar arranged in the eases
THE LIST m TI{E ItCHRIALHAS