Illustrated Catalogue of a Portion of the Collections Made During the Field Season of 1881 / Third Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1881-82, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1884, pages 427-510

COLLECTIONS FROM OTHER STATES.

65447. Stone implement of unusual form. It may be described as a flattish cylinder tapering slightly toward the ends, which are truncated. In one end a hole has been bored one-half an inch in diameter and three-fourths of an inch deep. A narrow, shallow groove encircles the implement near the middle. The material is a grayish slate. The form is symmetrical and the surface quite smooth.

Found upon the surface in Hamilton County, Indiana.

65353. A copper knife or poinard, with bent point. Found by Edward Daniels while digging a cellar at Ripon, Wis.

65352. A handsome vase, shaped like a bowl with incurved rim, obtained from a mound on the farm of A. C. Zachary, in Morgan County, Georgia. The incurved surface above has an ornamental design of incised lines resembling the Greek fret. The most expanded portion of the vessel is encircled by a raised band, which is neatly ornamented with notches. The lower part of the body is shaped like a bowl with a flattened base. Diameter 9½ inches. Presented by J. C. C. Blackburn.

COLLECTION FROM PERU, SOUTH AMERICA.

A number of interesting articles were presented by Mr. G. H. Hurlbut. These were obtained from ancient graves in the vicinity of Lima by an agent sent out for the purpose by Mr. Hurlbut while the city was invested by the Chilian army. Details of their occurrence were consequently not obtained.

A study of this collection leads to the belief that all the specimens are from one interment, that is, the grave of a single individual. The fact that there is but one skull, one mask-like idol, and but a small number of articles of each, of the classes represented, tends to confirm this supposition.

65377. Skull retaining the scalp and hair. The latter is long, coarse, and black. The lower jaw is missing.

65376. A mask-like wooden figure, the face being somewhat above life-size. Fig. 198. It is of a form not unusual in Peruvian graves. The features are fairly well shown. The eyes are formed by excavating oval depressions and setting in pieces of shell. First, oval pieces of white clam-shell are inserted, which represent the whites of the eye; upon these small circular bits of dark shell are cemented, representing the pupils. Locks of hair have been set in beneath the shell, the ends of which project, forming the lashes of the eye.

The back head is formed by a neatly-rounded bundle of leaves, held in place by a net-work of coarse cord. The edges of the wooden mask are perforated in several places; by means of these the back head, some long locks of fine flax which serve as hair, and a number of other articles have been attached.

Upon the crown a large bunch of brilliantly colored feathers has been fixed; behind this, extending across the top of the head, is a long pouch of coarse white cloth in which a great number of articles have been placed—little packages of beans and seeds, rolls of cloth of different colors and textures, minute bundles of wool and flax and cords, bits of copper and earth carefully wrapped in husks, bundles of feathers, etc.

Encircling the crown are long, narrow bands or sashes, one of which is white, the others having figures woven in brilliant colors. The ends of these hang down at the sides of the face. Attached to one side of the mask by long stout cords is a pouch of coarse cotton cloth resembling a tobacco-bag. It is about 6 inches square. Attached to the lower edge of this is a fringe of long, heavy cords. To the opposite side a net is suspended, in which had been placed innumerable articles, probably intended for the use of the dead—a sling, made of cords, very skillfully plaited; bundles of cord and flax; small nets containing beans, seeds, and other articles; copper fish-hooks, still attached to the lines, which are wound about bits of cornstalk or cane; neatly-made sinkers wrapped in corn-husks, together with a variety of other articles.

65380, 65382. Sinkers of gray slate, shaped somewhat like a cigar, one or more groves partially encircling the ends. These were carefully wrapped in corn-husks. Fig. 199.

65383, 65384. Two copper fish-hooks and the cords to which they are attached. The hooks pierce the ends of the bit of cornstalk about which the cord is wound. Fig. 200.

65387. A sling, 4 feet long. The extremities consist of a single cord, the middle part of 4 heavy, compactly-plaited cords.

65389. Head-bands of coarse fabrication, having figures of red, yellow and white.

65391. A large piece of cloth, possibly a mantle, made by piecing together fragments of highly-colored cloths.

65390. A large piece of gauze-like white cotton fabric.

65385, 65386. Small nets containing a variety of articles.

65386. A head ornament of red feathers, skillfully attached to cords.

INDEX