National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

EXHIBITION OF THE ETHNOGRAPHICAI, COI,I,ECTIONS

But before leaving Sweden we were going to show the most visible results of our collecting work in the East at a great exhibition for the public. MONTEI,I, devoted the end of December to preparations for this exhibition of the ethnographic collections brought together by him from Mongolia and northern China, as well as HUMIEL's collection from Tebbu. For the premises we managed to hire LILJEVALCH's Art Gallery.

On January 5th 1932 this exhibition was opened, being visited on that day by the King, the Crown Prince and consort, and several other royal personages. The public showed great interest in this unique exhibition, which included a bigger collection of lamaistic cult and art objects than any museum in the world (with the possible exception of some in Russia) . A special guide-book, richly illustrated, had been printed, to which MONTELL had contributed short essays on Buddhist and lamaistic religion and cult for the benefit of the visiting public.

Both MONTELL and I gave from time to time short lectures on the exhibition premises in connection with demonstrations of the objects. One day I took the members of the Riksdag round, having specially invited them. The exhibition lasted till the end of January, and was as far as public interest was concerned a decided success; though the financial return, as is always the case with such exhibitions, was very meagre. One of the visitors on the last day was a former member of the expedition, Major ZIMMERMANN, who had just come to Sweden for a short stay.

REPLY FROM GOVERNOR CHIN

It was only at this late date that I received a reply to the enquiries I had made more than six months earlier regarding a permit to enter Sinkiang. After this generously meted period to think the matter over Governor CHIN was graciously pleased to grant me the favour of entering his Central Asiatic domains. One was almost tempted to believe that he was aware that my immediate plans were as remote from thoughts of Sinkiang as could well be.

TO THE U. S. A.

On February 19th MONTELL and I went aboard the »Europa » in Bremerhafen. After a quick voyage over the wintry Atlantic we arrived in Brooklyn on the evening of the 25th. The very next day we had a first meeting with VINCENT BENDIx, who had just come to New York.

Before going on to Chicago I visited Boston, where I had been invited by my friend Dr HARVEY CUSHING, and here I gave a few lectures.

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