NO. 1887. CENSERS AND INCENSE OF MIDDLE AMERICA— HOUGH. 129 



these offerings in consonance with the behef that they were animate, 

 and, further, that they represented the human body, as has been 

 pointed out with regard to the censers and braziers. RutUments of 

 this girdle are seen on small tubular pipes from northern Arizona 

 (pi, 14/, h, j, Tc), wliich appear to show their relation to the cane 

 incense tube, and it is probable that the longer plain tubular pipes 

 were girdled with cord and feathers at the time of offering, as in some 

 modern Pueblo examples. 



Similarly, some of the Mexican pottery censers of hourglass shape 

 bear a girdle in rehef representing the cord 

 tied in a symbolic bow. (Fig. 9.) 



There is also a close connection \ni\\ 

 respect to the cigarette between the Mexi- 

 cans and the Pueblos. Abundant refer- 

 ences in the ^v^itings of the clironiclers 

 show that cigarettes cut from reeds, 

 painted in various patterns and colors, 

 filled with different kinds of odorous 

 herbs and other aromatic substances pul- 

 verized and mixed together, were 

 smoked ceremonially. 



3. SWINGING CENSERS. 



(a) The swinging censers which remain 

 to be discussed are not indigenous to the 

 Western Hemisphere, but have been intro- 

 duced by the religious orders. The 

 Museum possesses a specimen from the 

 Oxchiri Indians of Cliiapas, Mexico, 

 which shows an interesting adaptation 

 of native materials and art. It consists 

 of an hourglass-shaped basket of ixtle ^^°- n -swinging censer holder, 



, . . I -11 1 4 i .1 Indians of Oxchiei, Chiapas. Col- 



cord twined over a coiled rod. At the lected by l. h. ayme. 

 narrowest portion are attached four 



braided cords which are bunched at the ends and form a sling by 

 wliich the censer may be swung. These cords can be drawn together 

 vnth. a sliding ring. The incense, of copal, is burned in a bowl of 

 earthenware wliich fits in the larger concavity of the basket, and the 

 apparatus is presumed to have been used in the celebration of mass in 

 the poor country churches attended by Indians not possessed of a 

 metal censer. Diameter, top, 5f inches; bottom, 5^ inches; height, 

 4^ inches; length of cords, 23 inches. Collected by L. H. Aym6. 

 (Cat. No. 7689.5, U.S.N.M.) (Fig. 11.) 

 20441"— Proc.N.M.vol.42— 12 9 



