354 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1946 
Some of these surface findings of potsherds and stone implements 
are of sufficient interest to be described here. At Pulong Bacao and 
Kay Tomas we found that several bowl bottoms had been intentionally 
chipped along their edges to be used as throwing pieces, a common 
plaything for children in many parts of the world. 
Some potsherds belong to big pear-shaped jars of the type described 
in articles on pottery findings in the Philippines, showing dragons 
in high relief and other motifs done with incised lines. On the 
shoulders are handles in the shape of the Dog Foo, presenting on the 
forehead the character for Orient. The jars are of stoneware with 
greenish glaze. At Pulong Bacao we found parts of several such ves- 
sels. Originally they may have been deposited in the earth as an 
offering to the spirits, or they may have been temporarily buried to 
preserve fermented beverages, a custom still practiced among the Moi 
tribes in Annam. 
Such jars have been exported from China to many places in south- 
east Asia where the local population still regards them as animated or 
as possessing supernatural powers. When such jars are found by the 
natives in the Philippines, they are often intentionally crushed 
(“killed”) to prevent treasures supposed to be hidden in the vessel 
from disappearing mysteriously. 
A big jar found a few years ago by Fr. Worcester at Bohelebung 
near Lamitan (Basilan Island) contained several smaller vessels and 
some Chinese coins from the fifteenth century. 
STONE IMPLEMENTS 
Most of the stone implements are axes or ax-shaped objects, many 
reshaped for polishing, grinding, or some other secondary purpose. 
Plate 15 gives an idea of the various types represented in our findings 
from Calatagan. One ax had been transformed into a scraper ; another 
had its edge flattened as if it had been used for pounding or grinding. 
Part of another ax (square cross section and beveled edge) also had 
its edge flattened as if it had been used in the same way. The stone 
ax in many parts of the world is still looked upon as a magic object, as 
a charm or a thunderbolt, and is thought to be possessed of protective 
or curative powers. ‘The sorcerers of some mountain tribes in Annam 
rub the edge of a stone or bronze ax against the bottom of a bowl, an 
action which is believed to give healing power to the liquid subse- 
quently poured into the vessel. It is possible that the inhabitants of 
the Philippines, before they were converted to Christianity, practiced 
similar customs. 
Several disk-shaped pounders were used, in the opinion of our 
workers, as mortars in which betel nuts were pounded with pestles. 
According to some unconfirmed reports, similar disks have been thus 
