Illustrated Catalogue Of The Collections Obtained From The Indians Of New Mexico Part 2

The different varieties of ware, the red or brown without decorations, the white with decorations, and the black are in general use with the tribe, and specimens of each are contained in the collection. But few specimens of the purely micaceous ware are found, either in Zuni or Wolpi.

The preponderance of the large round water jugs in the Shinumo collection over that of Zuni is noticeable. This form of vessel seems to be more in use by tribes whose villages are quite remote from water or which are situated on high mesas difficult of access. The kinds of vessels, however, which are common with the Zunians are also common with the Shinumos, and those intended for the same use are generally of the same shape or similar in form. But, as with the decorations, there are also vessels so markedly distinct and variant from those we find at Zuni as to show very readily at least tribal distinctions between the ceramic artists and manufacturers.

The proximity of Laguna to Acoma led us to antic.i.p.ate what we afterward found, viz., a great similarity in the forms of their vessels, and also in their manner of ornamentation. The princ.i.p.al differences consist in the more profuse use of the forms of birds and flowers, the first evidently representing prairie grouse and the last some form of sunflower. There is an absence of the geometrical forms, of lines and angles commonly observed on the works of more distant pueblos.

Quite a number of animal representations, made hollow for use as drinking vessels, were obtained, displaying grotesquely imitative forms of deer, elk, sheep, big-horn, antelope, and other animals with which they are familiar. All of these objects have more color laid on them than is to be found on the pottery of their neighbors of Acoma, the birds and animals being painted in a light rufous fawn color not in use elsewhere, and the only instance of the employment of green is on a tinaja of this pueblo used in coloring some foliage.

VEGETAL SUBSTANCES.

This cla.s.s of ware comprises a very diversified group of objects; indeed, so great is the variety that I will not attempt a general description of them. Specific reference will be made to the objects as they occur in their places in the catalogue.

The objects of basketry or wicker-work are quite varied in form, construction, and decoration. Those made by the Zuni Indians are so rude and coa.r.s.e as not to ent.i.tle them to any merit. The larger baskets made by this tribe are used for carrying corn, melons, peppers, &c. The smaller are used for holding beans, sh.e.l.led corn, and other coa.r.s.e small materials.

The basketry of the Shinumos is of a finer and more finished quality.

Among these are many jug or canteen shaped baskets, from which, no doubt, many of the forms of their pottery water vessels have been copied. These are sometimes globular, with large round bodies and small necks. They are generally very closely woven and are then coated over with a resin or gum which renders them capable of holding water. Like some of their water jugs, in pottery, they have small horsehair ears or loops attached to the sides through which strings are pa.s.sed for carrying them either over the head or shoulder. This cla.s.s of water jug basketry all show evidences of age, and it is possible that they were manufactured by the Apaches or other tribes skilled in the art. The flat kinds are designed to hold fine grain and meal, and are also frequently used for winnowing. This is done by placing a small quant.i.ty of grain in the basket, and by a skillful motion throwing the grain up into the wind and again catching it as it comes down. This motion is kept up until the wind has separated the chaff from, the grain. Many of the flat baskets are decorated in colors, as will be seen by the accompanying ill.u.s.trations.

It is quite probable that most of the finer ware of this cla.s.s is manufactured by the Apache Indians, who are celebrated for this work, and finds its way among the Pueblos through the medium of barter.

The basketry of the Zunians is usually made of small round willows and the stem of the yucca, the leaves of which attain a long slender growth in that region. It is quite certain that the basketry used for holding water is not manufactured by the Zunians, and probably not by the Shinumos, though many are found with them.

As previously stated, the basketry manufactured by the Shinumo Indians is of a more finished cla.s.s and of a greater variety than that made and used by any of the other Pueblos, as will be seen by reference to the accompanying ill.u.s.trations. Among the examples of this ware, obtained at Wolpi, is a large number of the flat or saucer-shaped kind; these vary both in size and character of construction as well as decoration. The manner of making one form of this cla.s.s is quite interesting as well as curious. A rope-like withe of the fiber of the yucca, made quite fine, is wrapped with flat strips of the same plant. In forming the basket with this rope the workman commences at the center, or bottom, and coils the rope round, attaching it by a method of weaving, until, by successive layers of the rope, it attains the desired dimensions. These are quite highly and prettily ornamented in black, white, and yellow, and are compact and strong. Another variety of baskets of similar shape and size, and also fancifully ornamented, was obtained from the same Indians. These are made from small round willows. They exhibit less skill in construction, but are handsomely ornamented. Another kind was also obtained from the Shinumos, which, however, are attributed to the Apaches and probably found their way into the Moki villages through trade. These are large bowl-shaped baskets, almost watertight, but generally used as flour and meal baskets. They are also ornamented black and yellow, produced by weaving the material of different colors together while making the basket.

There are many other forms and varieties, which will be referred to at the proper time, as they occur in the catalogue.

The Pueblos employ a variety of plants and herbs for medicinal and dyeing purposes, some of which were collected. Their botanical names were not determined, but they are indigenous to the regions inhabited by the Indians using them.

Ornaments and musical instruments employed in dances and religious ceremonies do not differ much among the Pueblo Indians; the princ.i.p.al ones being the drum, rattle, notched sticks, a kind of fife, and a turtle-sh.e.l.l rattle. The latter instrument is the sh.e.l.l of a turtle, around the edges of which the toes of goats and calves are attached; this produces a very peculiar rattling sound. The sh.e.l.l is usually attached to the leg near the knee.

COLLECTIONS FROM ZUnI.

ARTICLES OF STONE.

_AXES, HAMMERS, AND MAULS._

1. (40139). Flat rubbing or grinding stone of silicified wood.

2. (40551). Stone axe, _o'-la-ki-le_, with groove near the larger end.

3. (40552). Imperfectly-made stone axe, _o'-la-ki-le_, grooved at each edge; basalt.

4. (40553). Large axe, with groove around the middle; sandstone.

5. (40554). Axe, grooved at the middle, square and flat on top; basalt.

6. (40555). Small centrally-grooved axe; schistose rock.

7. (40556). Axe, grooved in the middle.

8. (40557). Axe, grooved near the blunt end, which is shaped similarly to the edge.

9. (40558). Axe, grooved near the end.

10. (40559). Small hatchet, _o'-la-ki-le_, of basalt doubly grooved, edge beveled from both sides, hammer end about one and a half inches in diameter.

11. (40560). Grooved axe, _o'-la-ki-le_, of fine black basalt, well polished; groove well worn. The face or side is intended to be near the holder when in use. Fig. 352. This specimen was found in Arizona, near Camp Apache, and was presented by Mrs. George P. Buell. It is one of the largest in the collection with such perfect finish.

12. (40561). Grooved in the center; of porous basalt.

13. (40562). Hammer grooved in the center, rounded off at each end.

14. (40563). Small hatchet-shaped instrument, square at the back, and rounded at the front edge.

15. (40563a). Rudely-made axe, grooved near the blunt end.

16. (40564). Small axe, with a groove round the body quite near the blunt end; basalt.

17. (40565). Axe, three and a half inches long.

18. (40566). Quite small, probably a hatchet, of firm basalt, grooved near the hammer end.

19. (40567). Much larger than the last, basaltic; groove quite deep and smooth, hammer end circular, large, and blunt.

20. (40568). Grooved axe of quartzitic rock.

21. (40569). Pick-shaped axe, grooved entirely around, with imperfect depressions which were in the water-worn boulder from which it was made; about six inches in length.

22. (40570). Boulder of sandstone with groove near the middle.

23. (40571). Flat basaltic boulder, grooved near the center, straight on the back, and tapering above and below the groove.

24. (40572). Small basaltic hammer and axe with groove near the large end.

25. (40573). Small grooved axe composed of hard sandstone; hammer end large, edge quite perfect.

26. (40574). Small boulder of basalt, ground to an edge at one end and rounded off at the other; doubly grooved.

27. (40575). Large basaltic stone considerably chipped off from pounding hard substances, grooved near the center, both ends quite blunt; probably used as a pounding stone.

28. (40576). Flat basaltic boulder, used as a pounder.

29. (40577). Basaltic hatchet grooved in the middle; quite rough.

30. (40578). Grooved axe of a very heavy, solid character, apparently designed more for mauling than cutting.