188 



On a Specimen of 



ference of the mouth outside 24 inches, that of the narrowest 

 part of the neck 23 inches, that of the widest part of the swell 



35 inches. The depth within is 11 inches, or very nearly equal to 

 the greatest transvere diameter. The edge or lip of the mouth 

 is slightly bevelled outward and neatly marked with, radiating 

 sharp furrows. A band or fillet similarly marked, and f of an 

 inch in depth surrounds the mouth, and its sameness is agreeably 

 broken by an interrupted horizontal furrow running round the 

 middle of the fillet. A less distinct row of vertical furrows runs 

 round the upper part of the swell. All these ornamental mark- 

 ings are very carefully and cleanly cut, and the whole aspect of 

 the vessel bespeaks taste and skill in the workman, and indeed, 

 compares favourably in these respects with some Roman cinerary 

 urns, that stand on the same shelf, or with the ordinary pottery 

 of our own time. 



The brown powder found in the vessel, appears to be the 

 remains of some coarse farinaceous substance, probably Indian 

 meal, or pounded parched com. 



In its form and ornament this vessel is of the same type with 

 the Indian pottery of all parts of North America ; as for example 

 with that found on the sites of Indian villages in the state of 

 New York, and in the western mounds, and still in use among 

 the Mandans and other nations of the west. Anterior to Euro- 

 pean colonization, the Indian tribes appear pretty generally to 

 have made coarse pottery, without the aid of the potter's wheel* 

 but the art disappeared rapidly from most of the tribes, on the 

 introduction of metallic vessels. " Upon the site of every Indian 

 town," says Squier,* " as also within every ancient enclosure, 



♦Aboriginal Monuments of New York (Smithsonian Contributions). 



