MATERIAL CULTURE OP THE INDIANS OF SAMANA 75 



elevated portions are at the ends if the vessel is oblong and also 

 bilaterally if the vessel is rectangular, A peculiar reinforcement of 

 the walls of the body of certain forms of earthenware vessels is noted 

 in the parallel series of raised ridges extending from the rim coil 

 vertically to the shoulder. These upright ribbons of clay are uti- 

 lized as surface decorative embellishments and always terminate at 

 the highes point in vessels with raised rim sections. In 1 of Plate 

 20, Cat. No. 341025, U.S.N.M., a conventionalized animal figurine 

 reinforces the highest section of the rim or lip. Similar upright or 

 vertical reinforcement ridges are also illustrated in at 2, of Plate 14. 



A fragment of a large deep bowl was recovered from the hearth at 

 " Eaiload " cave. The fragment was incrusted with soot and char- 

 coal, which when removed revealed a bright brick-red color. This, 

 as also other fragments, show the use of a slip, while other shards 

 betray undoubted evidence of the application of a reddish paint. 



The large bowl. Cat. No. 341055, U.S.N.M., figured in Plate 14, was 

 recovered from under a mass of bowlders in Boca del Infierno cave, 

 where it had originally been placed either to collect the water drip- 

 ping from the roof of the cave or for safe-keeping. As no other 

 vessels were similarly hidden away on ledges or elsewhere within the 

 cave, it is probable that it had been placed there to collect the slowly 

 dripping water from the cave roof. The bowl or vase is globular in 

 form, plain as to decorative designs, except for a panel of incised 

 lines on the incurved shoulder just beneath the vertical neck section. 

 The rim is plain and vertical, being neither incurved nor flaring at 

 the rim. The body of the bowl is that of a flattened globe and has 

 a flat bottom which curved slightly upward at its center. 



The decorative panel on the incurved shoulder is characteristi- 

 cally Tainoan and is made up of altering horizontal and vertical 

 lines in series of five or more in parallel. Both horizontal and verti- 

 cal lines are terminated by a shallow pit. At the level of the deco- 

 rative panel and luted on bilaterally as handle lugs are two clay 

 zoomorphic figurines of the so-called " monkey " type. The upper 

 and lower portions of this type of clay figurine stand out in high 

 relief while the central area is markedly depressed. The simplicity 

 of the technic employed in shaping the figurine is remarkable be- 

 cause of its effectiveness. Four parallel horizontal incised lines of 

 two different lengths are introduced on the surface of the figurine, 

 the shorter at top and bottom, with the longer lines traversing the 

 central area of the figurine head. These lines are terminated with 

 punctations or shallow pits in typically Tainoan style. 



In color the vessel is a light buff with an overlay of carbon from re- 

 peated firing. The bottom of the vessel has become weakened from 

 weathering and penetration of foreign substances. About one-third 



