48 BULLETIN 134, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



U.S.N.M., pi. 14) ; small brown colored pottery cooking vessels and 

 stoves, some with and others without handles (Cat. Nos. 327336-41. 

 U.S.N.M.). 



The toy pottery modelings of the human figure are more conven- 

 tionalized (Cat. Nos. 327309-15, U.S.N.M., pi. 14), and display in an 

 exaggerated form the crudities and niceties of design and modeling 

 that are noted later in the detailed consideration of the potter's arts. 



When a child is born the mother is usually attended by some df 

 the older women of the tribe. If the child is a girl, as soon as she 

 is two weeks old the mother pierces a small hole in its nose and 

 ears, draws a thread through, and leaves it there for three or four 

 days. Later a larger thread is drawn through and left. This opera- 

 tion is kept up until the hole becomes large enough for a tiny ring 

 for the nose and ears. If this is the first girl, and the parents have 

 plenty of coconuts, these rings are of gold ; if not, they are of brass 

 The little girl allows her hair to grow long. At the age of three she 

 puts on a little dress. 



She is always in the company of her mother. Children are not car- 

 ried on the back of the mother as among the Choco and mountain 

 Cuna. This is due to the fact that travel is always by boat. The 

 little girl child amuses herself by playing about the house, by play- 

 ing with a small gourd rattle, or with little pet parakeets that 

 are kept for that purpose. At the age of six or seven her parents 

 plant coconut trees for her; at this time she also begins to seriously 

 care for her beads and other necklaces and armlets and bracelets. 

 The older women teach her to put on the leg bands. Hours will be 

 spent in putting them on and off again. 



At the age of puberty the little girl is placed in a partitioned-ofT 

 corner of the house. A small or broken cayuca or large vessel is 

 placed in the inclosure and filled with fresh water, and the girl is 

 given a bath extending over four or five days. This is done to 

 prevent sickness later in case she should get wet during the menstrual 

 period. After coining out of the bath the girl is considered old 

 enough to get married. 



The boys are given less attention than the girls. They wear but 

 little clothing and have but few amusements. Swimming, fishing, 

 and paddling about in small cayucas are the favorite pastimes. 

 Even the chasing of grasshoppers occupies the time of grown boys. 



WEAPONS, HUNTING, AND FISHING 



Ancient warfare and weapon types. — There are many accounts 

 which tell of the former warfare that existed between the San Bias 

 coast Tule and their nearest neighbors — the Mandinga and the 

 Bayano River tribes. This condition, which led to frequent battles. 



