126 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS [voL. 45 



remarkable feature of this specimen is three " wens " or knobs, one 

 on the forehead and one on each temple. This head was found in 

 the ruins of old Fort Santo Tomas, Santo Domingo, and was pre- 

 sented to Sefior Imbert by Jose Roman Perez. 



In a collection of prehistoric objects once the property of the late 

 Dr. Llenas, of Santiago de los Caballeros, but now owned by his 

 son, there is a similar specimen which should be mentioned in con- 

 nection with the one last described. This is a stone ball like those 

 so constantly found near the jucgos de hola of Porto Rico, having the 

 surface smooth with the exception of three knobs arranged in a 

 triangle at one pole. Unlike the Imbert specimen, however, no face 

 is carved upon it. 



STONE AMULETS 



A considerable number of small stone fetishes or amulets were 

 seen in various localities of Santo Domingo and Porto Rico and 

 a few were purchased by the author for the National Museum. 

 Among the stone fetishes in Santo Domingo may be mentioned 

 those in the collection of Sefior Imbert of Puerto Plata, and those in 

 the Nazario collection of Porto Rico. The specimens obtained con- 

 vey a fair idea of the typical form of these objects. 



The Antillean stone amulets are regarded as personal fetishes 

 which were worn on the neck or breast. Early writers speak of the 

 native custom of wearing small stone clan fetishes also on their fore- 

 heads when the warriors went into battle. 



In the Archbishop's collection there is a twin amulet or fetish (plate 

 XLVii, 4) representing two individuals united at their edges, the only 

 specimen of its form known to the writer. One of the amulets of 

 this general type, which is made of white stone, is perforated from 

 one side to the other, but most of them have holes at the edges and 

 not through the body. 



The finest amulet obtained in Porto Rico is somewhat larger than 

 those from Santo Domingo ; it is made of marble, with the legs carved 

 in relief and the virile organ conspicuous. The numerous forms of 

 Santo Domingo stone amulets in the Imbert collection vary in size 

 from an inch upward. There are others of shell which will be de- 

 scribed later.^ 



POTTERY 



Although the prehistoric inhabitants of the West Indies were 

 potters, none of their earthenware is of high order. They excelled 



^ For a fuller account of these amulets see American Anthropologist 

 (n. s.), vol. 5, October-December, 1903. 



