Ai'RiL, igoi. The Island of La Plata — Dorsey, 267 



pieces being found in perfect condition. With the exception of pos- 

 sibly not more than a dozen pieces, all the fragments were parts of 

 small images in the form of human figures. The clay used in the 

 manufacture of the pottery, while of fairly good texture, and in man} 

 ways superior to that used by the inhabitants of the mainland of 

 Ecuador, is greatly inferior to that used by the natives of Peru and 

 to that used in the vessels which were found in the graves on the 

 lowland of the island near the coast. From fragments representing 

 perhaps a thousand images not more than a half dozen pieces were 

 found which bore any trace of paint; these were painted red. The 

 pottery reveals no uniform method of firing, many of the pieces being 

 almost unburnt. No fragment was found, however, which had been 

 subjected to a heat so intense as to cause the particles of sand in its 

 composition to vitrify. All the pottery, with a very few exceptions, 

 is hand made; that is, it was not made in a mould, which was com- 

 monly employed on the south mainland of Ecuador and throughout 

 a large extent of Peru. In nearly all of the pieces, finger marks can 

 be plainly distinguished on the inside of the images, which are 

 generally hollow and often crudely executed, there being, as a rule, 

 no attempt at finished work. 



COMPLETE SPECIMENS. 



As has been stated, but two specimens were found in an intact 

 condition (see Pis. LXIX and LXX). These are similar in general 

 character, both representing a man in a sitting posture, with the legs 

 extended in a curved position in front and the hands resting on the 

 knees. The face has been done with considerable detail and both 

 wear a helmet or head-dress. On neither of the figures is there 

 represented any trace of a garment or of clothing. Both figures have 

 about the neck a cord-like enlargement, from which depends an object 

 which may represent a conventionalized animal head. 



The larger of the two figures measures nearly eight inches in 

 height. In addition to the features already described, which it has 

 in common with the other figures, there are several points worthy of 

 notice. The image as a whole is rather rudely made and shows signs 

 of haste and carelessness. At the same time the salient features of 

 the human form are characterized with striking boldness. The legs 

 consist simply of a hollow band of clay brought out in the form of a 

 circle in front of the body. Resting on this circle are conventionalized 

 arms, the fingers being represented by three deep incisions made in 



