MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS RELATING TO ANTHROPOLOGY. (J59 



in use for a long time to have caused tlie wear near the perforations, 

 consequently have been the cherished property of its aboriginal owner. 



One can easily see the marks of where the cords have worn slight 

 grooves or abrasions between the different perforations. This is where 

 it differs from all the tablets with two perforations only that liave 

 come under my observation, as they as a rule never bear any marks of 

 cords.* 



This tablet, it will be noticed, bears on its upper margin a slight notch 

 or groove, worn smooth as by the wearing of a cord. The abrasions on 

 this tablet having been made by cords or sinews passing through the 



Fig.l 



Fi^.2 



TiffS 



Ti^.4 



various perforations, the question naturally arises how were the cords 

 put on to have caused the wear in those particular places, and why 

 were they put on in that way ? If it was a gorget or a pendant, why 

 the necessity of so much cord traveling through the different perfora- 

 tions, which evidently belonged to it when in use ; why so many per- 

 forations, when one loop and one perforation would have answered ? 

 This I consider as a i)roof it was not a gorget, nor was it worn as an 

 ornament. 



Let me proceed and illustrate as simply as I can how this tablet was 

 used and strung during the aboriginal era. Take a piece of cord thirty- 

 six inches long or thereabouts, tie the two ends together, place it on 



'Rau. Smithsonian Contributions, No. 287, 1876, page 33. 



