AN INDIAN WHO HELPED THE MUSEUM 257 
The young aspirant appeared in the open among the tipis with a small pipe, 
dancing, shouting and holding the pipe toward the heavy clouds. Our 
friend was not idle, but after his way sat modestly in his tipi with his drum — 
the one in the case — tapping it softly and mumbling his songs and formula. 
All day long the clouds lowered and rose, of mist there was much, but of 
rain scarcely a drop. It was an unusual day. Even the prudent old 
weather prophet would have advised umbrellas and mackintoshes. At 
intervals the young braggart danced in public, our friend kept to his tipi. 
After two days of this uncertain weather, the sun came forth bold and 
clear. Then our friend laid his drum aside and the braggart sought solace 
in heavy wagers at the wheel games. 
At another time our friend accepted a challenge as to which could make 
it rain more heavily. His rival worked his formula and there was a pour. 
Then our friend took up his drum and began. Soon there were torrents. 
The waters rose in all the tipis save his own, but he continued tapping his 
drum heedless of his fleeing neighbors. What matter if his tipi had been 
set on a small knoll, thanks to his keen-eyed woman? 
The little drum in the case could doubtless tell us many other tales, 
but they are lost forever. Remember that our friend was but an old un- 
washed, blanket-covered Indian addicted to the prejudice and folly of his 
kind, and not the ideal these lines may entice you to imagine. Once he was 
heard to say that he had lived to know deeply two white men, one daubed 
in color, one otherwise; that he himself dabbled in medicine, but that each 

after his way attained his ends. Yes, each has his method — art, science, 
the medicine formula of the Indian. 
There are other objects in the hall that stand as silent memorials to this 
crude Indian and his time, each object bearing its own unwritten lore and 
none the less important in science if occasionally the cause of sentiment. 
ETHNOLOGICAL COLLECTION FROM CHILI 
HE Museum has recently received from Dr. F. D. Aller of Gatico, 
Chih, a valuable ethnological collection of one hundred and _ fifty 
specimens, some of which belong to prehistoric times, others to the 
sixteenth century. These specimens are much like those in the Museum’s 
collection from Arica, Antofagasta and Chuquicamata, Chili. Of unusual 
interest are the objects taken from a woman’s grave, in particular a work 
basket of the same form as those found all over the Peruvian coast. In 
the basket are feather plumes, bone charms and bone awls for basket work, 
spindles wound with thread, spindle whorls and a finely netted bag used 
probably for carrying coca. 
C. W. M. 
