A Marvellous Oriental Collection:

Scores of tablets and cylinders, with incised figures and cuneiform inscriptions, purporting to have been brought from Babylon and Assyria, the legends upon each of which were translated and commented on by an intelligence speaking through the medium and giving the name of the late Dr. Robinson, the well-known Egyptologist, who likewise gave an elaborate account of the Aztecs of Mexico and the lncas of Peru.

Dozens of live birds brought from India, the Malay Peninsula and elsewhere, and some of which no ornithologist in Australia can name.

Many beautiful birds' nests from Egypt and India—some containing eggs and others unfledged young.

Several live fish enveloped in seaweed from the South Pacific.

Large quantities of seaweed, dripping with sea water, and permeated with sand; a live starfish being found in one of the heaps and dozens of "hopping insects" frequently found on the sands.

An African fetish composed of a human femur.

Two African divining rods, one tipped with ivory and the other with ebony.

A species of plastron made of the skin of a large tiger's head.

A leopard's skin measuring six feet from the neck to the end of the tail.

Greek, Egyptian and Roman manuscripts, mostly of papyrus.

One hundred antique coins.

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Numerous exotic shrubs, some of which are now growing in Mr. Stanford's garden.

One blood garnet, two green sapphires, two chrysobels, two rubies, two cinnamon stones, six moonstones, three turquoises.

Nest with two eggs which was dematerialised in presence of the circle and taken back to the sitting bird.

Flying fish entangled in a piece of net and seaweed not to be obtained in these seas.

Lumps of clay as big as a man's fist, with stone spear-heads from Central America embedded therein.

Prayer manuscripts from Thibet, written on the bark of a tree.

Large quantity of small square fragments, said to be portion of Mosaic pavement, which it was intended to remove from Central America to Melbourne.

Set of carved ivory beads of exquisite workmanship, interspersed with shells and carved seeds from Indian Temple, threaded on a piece of skin.

Flag from the Soudan, used in the Battle of Omdurman, with letters from the Koran worked on either side, said to have been procured through the agency of Hassan, a soldier killed in the war and in communication with Abdul and Selim.

Quantity of red dust, called sacred earth. It half-filled a good-sized dish, and it was explained that such dust was only to be obtained in one place in India.

A bag made of Chinese silk and containing 144 pieces of Chinese money—brass coins.

Piece of Indian tapestry measuring lift, x 5ft., which completely enwrapped the medium.

Belt made of skin of leopard's head from Africa.

A fetish doll from the Congo, made from human bones and buried in the fields to ensure good crops.

Picture, 12in. x 18in., taken from wall of a native hut in India—a Brahm picture representing a sacred cow.

Twelve leaves of palm tree were brought at one sitting with prayers written thereon.

Young bird was brought in nest shown a fortnight before when just hatched. It was taken away again with promise to return it and leave it when fully fledged. This promise was kept.

Manuscript from fort of Himalayas, about 2000 years old, containing astronomical memoranda.

Egyptian woman's veil made of dark brown canvas material, ornamented with coloured beads and coins. It is hung from the forehead with holes for the eyes.

Native waist dress from New Guinea made of grass.

Skull. This is one of the most remarkable apports A request was made for some large object with the suggestion that a skull might convince unbelievers that such a thing could not be hidden away in the medium's clothing. A few weeks later it was requested by the controls that a black cloth should be brought to the circle. The corners of this were held by Mr. Stanford, a medical gentleman, and a lady sitter, and the skull was dropped into it at some distance from the medium. It was said to be from the Philippine Islands and the skull of an American soldier who had fallen in the war.

An Indian head-dress with coloured feathers.

Thibet charm. This was found in a hut, and is a peculiar-looking object. As with similar apports from Thibet it is a religious charm. The disc is of thin wood inscribed with Thibetian language; seven pieces of hammered copper are around. This is hung on to a piece of skin.

Fetish from India. Half a cocoanut. Inside it contains a packet of poison, and is said to be used against enemies with an invocation.

An anklet from Thibet, made of skin and ornamented with shells.

A fur hat from Thibet, the size of a large tea cosy and said to have belonged to the Thibetian executioner, made from the skin of a goat.

Several encaustic tiles from Roman strata in the mounds near Babylon.

Flower brought to a lady present without contact with medium.

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Remarkable bird's nest lined with fur.

Handful of thin wafer-like biscuits, exceedingly fragile and different from anything seen outside India.

Two pieces of monolithic marble. If repolished it was said that fossilised fish would be found throughout.

Nest with two eggs and complete skeleton of bird which Abdul said represented "a tragedy of the jungle." The bird, he explained, while sitting, is attacked by a venomous insect, dies, and another enemy comes along and eats the flesh, leaving the skeleton as brought.

Six live birds arrived at one sitting from Singapore.

A bird's nest with two different sized eggs in it. The nest was made of feathers and cocoa-nut fibre, and it was explained that the nest was that of the Buhl-Buhl bird, in which the Bell bird often deposits an egg, the other egg being that of the Buhl-Buhl.

Dress of a cannibal—a most remarkable apport.

Lump of clay with Mosaics, three and half pounds in weight.

A live turtle, which lived for two or three weeks.

Beautiful silken garment belonging to Nautch dancing girl, its length being about nine feet. It was of blue silk material, covered in parts with close embroidery in crimson silk—the dress, however, was taken away again as it was thought the wearer might have died of fever.

Gorgeous costume of Chinese Mandarin, with pig tail and hat complete, reference to which is made below.

The collection in its entirety forms an exceedingly valuable and attractive museum. Mr. Stanford, in fact, carefully preserves each apport and the birds that are brought are kept in his aviary. It is no exaggeration to say that no assortment of the kind can be found anywhere else in Australia, and it is quite certain in regard to some of the objects brought from Thibet, in particular, that no traveller would be allowed to leave the country with the articles in his possession.