FEWKES] ARCHEOLOGICAL TRIP TO WEST INDIES I 3 I 



the arms are well made and are flexed at the elbows, bringing the 

 hands to the chest while the fingers are turned to the palms. This 

 specimen also has the broken incised lines on the shaft. 



In the other two specimens of these regurgitating sticks there are 

 slight variations in the arrangement of the limbs of the figure form- 

 ing the handles, otherwise they are generally similar to those de- 

 scribed. 



SHELL AND BONE CARVINGS 



Antillean shell and bone carvings are practically unrepresented in 

 the museums of the United States, and little is known of the skill of 

 the aborigines of the West Indies in work of this kind. It is there- 

 fore with gratification that the author is enabled to mention a few 

 specimens of shell and bone carving which he was fortunate enough 

 to obtain. The best specimens of this sort that were seen are in the 

 Archbishop's collection from Santo Domingo. 



One of the finest examples of shell carving (plate xlviii, 4) is made 

 of the lip of a conch and was apparently used as an amulet. It con- 

 sists of a head mounted on a base which is perforated for suspension 

 from the neck or forehead. Great care was given to the carving of 

 both the head and the base, the decoration consisting of cross-hatch- 

 ing and circles. The head is generally globular in form ; the eye- 

 sockets are depressions or pits in which gold balls were formerly 

 inserted ; while the ears, which are cut in relief, also have pits on 

 the side as if to contain similar ornaments. The technique of the 

 mouth and the teeth is good. The end of the nose is slightly 

 upturned ; the back of the head bears incised lines arranged in 

 geometric patterns, following the Caribbean style of decoration. 



Another carved amulet, of bone, (plate xlviii^ 5) represents a seated 

 figure with arms akimbo, the hands resting on the knees. Eyes, 

 ears, and appendages to the top of the head are well cut, but the 

 nose is lacking. That part of the figurine which from the front 

 appears to be the neck, is in reality a mouth having rows of teeth, 

 just back of which the object is perforated as if for the passage of a 

 cord by which it was suspended. The details of body and limbs are 

 well worked out, even the umbilicus and leg bands being represented. 

 The general form of this image suggests an amulet for suspension 

 from the body, or perhaps tied to the forehead, a custom which the 

 Caribs are reputed to have observed when they went into battle. 



In the Imbert collection there is a flat, rectangular shell plate, about 

 twice as long as broad, perforated at each end. One face of the 

 disk is smooth, but the opposite is decorated with incised circles, 

 dots, triangles, and other figures. 



