280 Field Museum or Natural History — Anth., Vol. X. 



it is remarked of the pieces in Figs. 184 and 185 that they are made of 

 "white jade with reddish dots spread over the entire body;" of the 

 piece in Fig. 186, "of white jade with two black strips;" and of that in 

 Fig. 187, "of white jade with a small zone of black mist, this specimen 

 being the largest of its kind." In form, these pi are bell-shaped in 

 general. The small oval perforations show that they were destined 

 for scabbards terminating in a curved narrow tip, accordingly holding 

 one-edged knives or swords. The decorations are self-explanatory, 



Fig. if 

 Ornament, pi, for Lower End of Scabbard, 

 White Jade interspersed with Russet Dots. 



pointing to the style of the Han period. The hydra ready for attack is 

 notable in Fig. 185. In Fig. 186, a bronze vessel with projecting ridges 

 is imitated. Figure 187 offers perhaps a strongly conventionalized form 

 of the monster Vao-Vieh. 



In our own collection there is a carving of cloud-white and greenish 

 jade (3.8 cm X 4-5 cm) which I think may be identified with this type 

 (Plate XXVIII, Fig. 6). The petals of an opening flower seem to be 

 intended in the upper portion, and on one of the lateral sides a veined 

 leaf is engraved, part of which is visible in the illustration. Also this 

 piece is doubtless a work of the Han period. 



