THE POTTER'S ART AMONG NATIVE AMERICANS. 651 



were lovers of music, judging by the instruments fashioned from 

 clay. It is hardly likely that the musicians confined themselves 

 to that material in their production of sweet sounds. Terra-cotta 

 drums, rattles, whistles, and flutes have been found. There are 

 rattles shaped like the gourd, which vegetable product seems to 

 have first served man as a rattle. The Mayas of Central America 

 yet use it in certain religious dances. The handles of Chiriquian 

 rattles were made as whistles. The bodies of drums were some- 

 times made of clay, though these specimens are rare. They were 

 shaped somewhat like an egg-cup, the small part serving as base, 

 the tissue or skin being stretched over the larger orifice. 



The wind instruments are capable of yielding very sweet 

 though not powerful or far-reaching tones. The note on any one 

 stop is in some instances susceptible of change by varying the force 

 of the breath, affording much scope to a skillful performer. With 



Fig. 4. 



Fig. 5. 



the exception of the drums the clay instruments are not more 

 than about eight inches long. The whistles were constructed on 

 the same principle as the modern flageolet. They give eight or 

 more notes, though not a true scale. The bird was quite appro- 

 priately a favorite shape for whistles, the finger holes or stops 

 being in the breast. On them a practiced performer could imitate 

 the song birds with some accuracy. 



In Corozal Island on the east coast of Yucatan, there are vases 

 with flaring rims supported on three short legs, like some of 

 Chiriqui. Our illustrations of Chiriqui pottery are : 4. Vase with 

 four handles — decorations in black, red, and purple. Ten inches 

 high. This form is frequently found in Mexico and Central 

 America. 5. Vase, eight inches high, with hollow base. Elabo- 

 rate designs in red, white, black, and purple. Equal to Chinese 

 or Egyptian work. 6. A tripod nine inches high. Similar ones 

 have been found in Cozumel Island, having hollow legs, contain- 



