54 COLUMBIAN HISTORICAL EXPOSITION AT MADRID. 



believed to be a later development of the former, and it is doubtful 

 whether, at least in Uruguay, the natives were acquainted with it at 

 the time of the Conquest. The manner of its use is, that one of the 

 stones, the smallest of the three, is taken in the hand, and the others 

 are slung several times around the head and then hurled at the animal 

 in such a manner that his feet become entangled in the cord, and he 

 falls an easy prey to his pursurer. 



The simple or single bola is merely a stone attached to the extremity 

 of a cord about 3 feet long. The other extremity is taken in the hand, 

 whirled several times around the head, and the stone is dispatched to 

 strike the animal or the enemy in some vital part. Often heavy and 

 large stones are used for this form of the bola. 



Nearly all the bolas present the circular groove above referred to ; 

 but there are some which do not. These appear to have been wrapped in 

 skins or thongs and by this method attached to the cord. Those bolas 

 which are taken in the hand are usually smaller than the others; are 

 highly polished, oval, and have the groove extending longitudinally. 

 Not a few of them are so perfectly symmetrical in outline that it is 

 difficult to believe that they have not been made by machinery. 



Another variety of stone weapon presenting a generally spherical 

 outline, with a transverse groove and often with conical prominences, 

 are the heads of war clubs or of maces. Many examples of these are 

 shown. They were fastened to the extremity of a handle and were 

 entirely weapons of war. 



Axes or hatchets of stone often occur on the village sites. They are 

 usually highly polished, some having a groove, others not. 



A comparatively few examples are shown of stone disks. It is not 

 clear for what purpose they were made, and the suggestion of the 

 catalogue that they were sling stones is not probable. 



There are two varieties of stone utensils presenting concavities, 

 evidently mortars for breaking corn and other grain ; the other smaller 

 in size and probably for use in grinding paints or similar coloring 

 matters. 



Perforated stones are not unfrequent, for what use has not been 

 clearly denned. It has been suggested that they may have been 

 attached to handles for the purpose of carrying nuts or hammering 

 on soft substances. They are of various diameters and usually circular 

 in outline. 



Two of the most interesting objects in the exhibition in this depart 

 ment are two stones, the one representing rudely an ax or hatchet 

 bearing an outline of the human face, and the other approximating to 

 it in form, but evidently intended to represent a bird. A stone rudely 

 chipped or polished resembling the latter has been exhumed from some 

 of the ancient stations on the coast of Brazil, and the peculiar charac 

 ter of such objects prompts to the suggestion that they may have 

 I roceeded from the same inspiration; which, indeed, is not improbable, 



