NO. 1887. CENSERS AND INCENSE OF MIDDLE AMERICA— HOUOH. 113 



sitles has the appearance of the Nahuatl type of brazier and may be 

 assigned to that chTss. It comes from Costa Rica and was collected 

 by C. N. Riotte in 1866. Diameter, 10^ inches; height, 11 inches. 

 (Cat. No. 2347, U.S.N.M.) (Fig. 2.) 



The stone basins borne by human or animal figures are mainly of 

 the brazier class and represent this form among non-Nahuatl peoples. 

 They are generally found south of the Nahuatl area and extend to 

 Ecuador. The best known figures of tliis class are the specimen from 

 Santa Lucia, Cozumalhuapa, Guatemala (pi. 3 h), in the Royal Mu- 

 seum of Berlin (see Catalogue Guide for 1904; Georg Reimer, Berlin), 

 and the stone basin near Cuernavaca, Mexico. 



A large monolitliic sculpture in basalt representing two clasped 

 human beings, the recumbent figure bearing a basin of ovate outline 

 over the belly, exists in the United 

 States National Museum. It is of 

 heavy black basalt and comes from 

 Costa Rica. (PL 3 c}) The relation 

 of this sculpture to several recumbent 

 figures found in Mexico, the most cele- 

 brated being known as Chac-Mool, and 

 others questionably spoken of as pulque 

 gods, is quite close, and taken in con* 

 nection vnth the fire navel idea (p. Ill), 

 the making of new fire on the belly of 

 a victim, and the beliefs concerning fire, 

 generation, and life, presents an inter- 

 esting suggestion. In some cases basins 

 held in the hands of stone figures have 

 evidentl}^ been used for the burning of 

 incense. In one of these specimens, about 3 feet high, found at 

 Copan, Honduras, the basin is held up on a level w^th the chin of 

 the idol. (PI. 4.) This form appears to be related developmentally 

 to the pottery bowl with the head on one side; it is discussed by 

 Dr. Eduard Seler in Bulletin 28, Bureau of American Ethnology, 

 Washington, 1904, pages 84-85. 



Dupaix figures an image of granite 12 inches in height representing 

 a seated man with crossed legs and arms from Zachila, 10 to 12 miles 

 south of Oaxaca. The sash about the loins of this figure has the knot 

 at the back. Another from this locality has a hollow in the top of 



» Brazier. Basaltic rock, sculptured in the form of two clasped figures, tho recumbent one bearing a 

 basin held in tho hands. The breasts hang over the edge of the basin. Tho head of this figure has been 

 broken away, and tho whole surface of the object is much worn by weather. It measures 33 inches long, 

 16 inches high, and 19 inches wide at the greatest projections. Costa Rica. Collector imknown. (Cat. 

 No. 179120, U.S.N.M.) 



20441°— Proc.N.M. vol.42— 12 8 



Fig. 2.— Brazier of hourglass form, 

 CosTA Rica. Collected by C. N. 

 Riotte. 



