l20 HAVEXPOUT ACADEMY OK KATtTR^VJv SCIENCES. 



Tho black ware, first brought to the National Museum by Col. Ste- 

 venson, is made by the Indians of the Pueblos of San Juan, Santa 

 Clara, San Ildefonso, Coehiti, Tesuque, Nambe, Santo Domingo, San- 

 dia and San Filipe. The vessels are constructed in the ordinary man- 

 ner and sun-dried. A paste of clay is then made, of the consistence 

 of cream, and applied with a mop or brush of goat's hair or sheep's 

 wool, which is then rubbed dry with the polishing stone. The vessel 

 is next placed upon the ground, and a pile of dry manure built over it 

 in contact with the specimen, appearing not unlike a huge bee-hive. 

 The pile is ignited at several points al)out the base, and as soon as the 

 fuel is consumed the a^^hes are quickly scraped away, when pow- 

 dered manure is thrown upon the vessel, causing a dense smoke. 

 The vessel, in tins stage of sudden cooling, absorbs sufficient carbon 

 to become perfectly l)lack and glossy upon such parts as have been 

 previously polished. The accompanying figures refer to some of the 

 forms recently received by the National Museum : 



1^1. V, Fig. 89695. rejirfsents ji small flat eating dish. Although not cue of 

 tlie older forms in .shape, it illustrates a very simple one for manufacture. 

 PI. II, Fig 8H74y. is a small water jar. and represents the most primitive form. 

 In PI. III. Fig. 89TH0, the neck appears, illustrating gradual improvement 

 over the preceding. PI. Ill, Fig. 3961o, is a water jar with a handle, while 

 in PI. III. Fig. 89625. the handle is replaced by ears, admitting of suspension 

 by corils. PI. II, Fig. 89629. is grooved for the reception of a cord, to which 

 others were attached either for ca'rrving or suspension. PI. Ill, Fig. 89650, 

 presents both the groove and ears. PI. II, Fig. 89882, is an odd form and 

 represents a bird, while the grotesque object represented on PI. II, Fig. 

 89824, is for no particular use, further than an exhibition of skill in the 

 working of clay. PI. III. Fig. 41058 is an unpolished black vessel used for 

 cooking purpo.ses. 



The preceding' are nearly all from the pueblo of Santa Clara, though 

 they are tj'jiical of all those trilies already referred to. The contrast 

 can be seen by comj^aring them with the following vessels from Zuiii: 



PI. V, Fig. 40817, and PI. IV, Fig. 41609, are ordinary water jars, as is also 

 PI. II. Fig. 89510, though in this the constriction was made for attaching 

 cords to aid either in carrying, or for suspension. PL IV, Fig. 40612, repre- 

 sents a condiment dish, the separate partitions being intended for salt, pep- 



materials emiiloved in the maiuifacture of pottery, besides toys, images, sa- 

 cred objects, pipes, medicines, food, etc., etc. 



I also em1)race this opportiuiity of returning my sincere thanks to Major 

 J. W. Powell, U. S. (ipologi.st and Director of the Bureau of Ethnology, for 

 granting me the use of illustrations intended for his forthcoming Annual 

 Report. The numbers employed are those corresponding with the speci- 

 mens as labeled in the National Museum. 



