650 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



hand. After being baked some pieces were partially glazed, or 

 varnisbed with a resinous gum, warmed over a bed of coals and 

 gently rubbed over the vessels. The natives on the Amazon em- 

 ployed a similar method. 



With clay the Chiriquians made a great variety of objects, in- 

 cluding many shaped vessels, drums, whistles, rattles, stools, 

 spindle whorls, needle cases, toys, and other small objects. The 

 baking was effected with a low degree of temperature, and in 

 a way that produced no discoloration. All the work was skill- 

 fully done and so neatly finished that the method by which it 

 was accomplished can not be detected. The eye and the hand of 

 the manipulator must have been exquisitely trained. 



Complex pieces were made in parts that were cleverly put 

 together, no portion being injured. The heads and other parts of 

 animals, handles, legs, bases of vessels, were luted on with con- 

 summate skill, the thinnest walls and most complex delicate 

 forms not being injured in the process. Before the surface wash 

 was applied, the whole was carefully smoothed. After the appli- 

 cation, and when the clay was somewhat indurated, smooth peb- 

 bles were used to polish the surface. This was sometimes done 

 so thoroughly that the finish has been mistaken for glaze of a 

 vitreous nature. Ornamental painting and intaglio devices were 

 usually done after the polishing. The general colors of the paste 

 were light yellow, gray, ochery yellow, and pale terra-cotta red. 

 Dark brown, salmon, and orange hues are occasionally found. 

 The paints used for decorating were reds, blacks, and purple 

 grays. The red varied from a light vermilion to a deep maroon. 

 The colors are indelible, and are believed to be of a mineral char- 

 acter. 



Many jars were manufactured only to be placed with the dead. 

 Tripods are supposed to have served for religious ceremonies as 

 braziers. Most of the fine pieces were made expressly for re- 

 ligious or funeral purposes. The various forms were always 

 symmetrical. Some jars had as many as four mouths. 



Among the various ornamental devices are included fish, crabs, 

 frogs, crocodiles, pumas, and monkeys, also a conventional ser- 

 pent. Too much can not be said in praise of the beauty of out- 

 line of these vases, but in any case where the artist has attempted 

 a human figure the result is a deplorable failure. There are a 

 few double-headed vases and an approach to the modeling of jars 

 in animal forms after the Peruvian style. 



There are at least ten varieties of painted ware, apparently the 

 work of different communities. Generally speaking, the vessels 

 were not of large dimensions, some elaborately ornamented ones 

 being only four inches high. Even cooking pots were what we 

 should call decidedly small. It is evident that the Chiriquians 



