THE PAINTING OF HUMAN HONES AMONG THE INDIANS. 609 



or of which I have fouiul nientiou in literalin'c, the c-oh)i'ali()ii was 

 red, and in most instaiuvs duv (o red ocher. In a lew cases, probably 

 more recent burials, the i)iii'nK'nl was xerniilion. 



The fourth class of stained bones is much more restricted than 

 any of the })recedinii': it consists mainly of skidls whicli had been 

 painted by hand. In all but two cases known (o me on this con- 

 tinent the paint was red, and was applied sometimes over the facial 

 [)arts of the skull only, at other times over the whole cranium, and 

 in a few instances also over other bones of the skeleton. I shall 

 cite examples of this class from Unitetl States, Canada, and other 

 regions. 



The fifth and final variety of bone staining- consists of skulls on 

 which desii2:ns have been made in colors. Such s|KH'imens thus far 

 found are few and they are probably all, or nearly all, recent. 



A variety of red pigmentation of human bones l)y the products of 

 pigment producing bacteria has been suggested by Krause; I have 

 as yet come across no instance where such agency Avould appear prob- 

 able. Blackening of bones is occasionally witnessed in maceration. 



In a number of instances it is difficult, if not impossible, to decide 

 whether the given bones have been stained accidentally by the pig- 

 ment buried with the body, or whether they have been intentionally 

 painted. It may be assumed, however, as a general rule, that Avhere 

 the coloration is symmetric, rather uniform in extent, and restricted 

 to the external surface, not extending into the fossa', ventral cavity, 

 or even the alvoelar spaces of a skull, we have to deal Avith inten- 

 tional painting of the specimen. In accidental staining the pigment 

 is often found mixed with the eart|i about the bones, it covers the 

 bones less regularly, and penetrates more or less into d\\ the larger 

 spaces. It is, of course, also possible that the paint applied to the 

 bones by hand after their burial spreads somewdiat by natural means 

 lo other parts, as well as to the soil, but in such instances the second- 

 ary coloration of the bone is liable to be restricted besides irregular, 

 and the staining of the soil is very limited. 



It is principally the last three varieties of pigmented Ix^nes which 

 are, in this country each in a distinctive way, of ethnological interest, 

 for they represent so many different, though probably related, cus- 

 toms of the American aborigines. 



The geographical distribution of such stained or painted bones on 

 this continent appears to be very wide, but so far is quite irregular. 

 With the increase of material, some of the existing lacuna' will 

 undoubtedly be filled, while in other cases there Avill be traced, accord- 

 ing to indications, allied customs. On the whole it seems that one or 

 another use of red pigment, particularly ocher, has been quite general 

 in the funerary' rites of the American Indians. 

 &M 1004 39 



