Final Report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 869 pages of information about Final Report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission.

Final Report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 869 pages of information about Final Report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission.

In Liberal Arts the government of Ceylon snowed the admirable work turned out by its printing offices, and various private firms of printers and photographers were represented.  The large model of the artificial harbor of Colombo was of particular interest as illustrating the position of the city as the tenth port in the world for tonnage entering and clearing.  There was also a good private collection of coins found in Ceylon and covering a period of nearly two thousand years.  The space occupied in the Palace of Liberal Arts was 600 square feet, and the value of the total exhibit was $1,000.

The musical instruments of the country, chiefly consisting of drums and the varied equipment of the “devil dancers,” were shown in the Ceylon Building.

In the Palace of Forestry a space or 600 square feet was occupied by Ceylon.  The chief exhibit there consisted of the massive trunk of a satinwood tree, hollowed out so as to form a receptacle for “books,” which consisted of blocks of all the various trade timbers of the country.  An exhibit prepared by the marine biologist illustrated everything connected with fishing in the Ceylon waters, from the crude fish trap of the villager to the latest addition to knowledge regarding the origin of the lustrous oriental pearl.  Models of the various kinds of boats employed in the country were also shown.  The wild animals of the country, its beautiful birds (including the swift, which builds the edible nest), and gorgeous butterflies, were well shown.  The exhibit represented a value of $3,000.

Finally, in the department of anthropology there were shown, in the Ceylon Building, types of the various races found in Ceylon, illustrations of their pre-Christian civilization, the utensils of brass and wood still used in their houses, and all the accompaniments of their philosophic religions.

A special handbook was prepared by a subcommittee in Colombo containing information for the use of the American people regarding the trade and resources of the country.

CHINA.

The participation of China at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition was authorized by an imperial decree issued in January, 1903.  The same decree appointed an imperial commission, as follows: 

His Royal Highness Prince Pu Lun, imperial high commissioner; Sir Robert Hart, Bart., G.C.M.G. (inspector-general of customs), president ex-officio; Mr. Wong Kai-Pah, imperial vice-commissioner; Mr. Francis A. Carl, imperial vice-commissioner; Mr. D. Percebois, secretary of Chinese imperial commission; Mr. J.A.  Berthet, assistant to secretary of Chinese imperial commission.

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Final Report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.