COLUMBIAN HISTORICAL EXPOSITION AT MADRID. 



127 



Its chief employ was in. Mexico and Central America, where have been found 

 many wonderful specimens of sculpture, cores, Hakes, and leaf-shaped blades, 

 the latter thin, sharp, and beautifully chipped. An extensive aboriginal com 

 merce was carried on in obsidian. A thousand specimens have lately been 

 exhumed from the Hopewell Mound, Ohio, a thousand miles distant from the 

 nearest known locality where obsidian had its origin. 



Fig. 48. 



STONE PICK FOR STEATITE QUARRYING. 



Graywhacke. Pennsylvania. 



Chiriqui gold ornaments from Panama. The Chiriqui tribe of aborigines occupied a 

 portion of the Isthmus of Panama between Costa Rica and Veragua. Gold orna 

 ments were discovered in 1859 in prehistoric graves. Gold, silver (in alloy), 

 copper, and possibly tin are represented. Gold-silver alloy is probably a 

 natural compound. Gold-copper alloys appear to range between purity in either 

 metal. Most of the gold objects were made by casting in molds rather than by 

 hammering. Gilding, or at least plating, was practiced. Gold was used for 

 ornaments and not for implements or utensils. Ten specimens from Chiriqui; 6- 

 specimens from Central America; 1 specimen from Mexico. 



114 



Fig. 49. 



MULLERS FOR GRINDING GRAIN AND PAINT. 

 1&quot;3, greenstone, Georgia ; 174, hematite, Ohio. 



Quimbaya gold ornaments from Antioquia, South America. The Quimbaya tribe of 

 aborigines was found by the Conquistadores occupying territory 10 or 15 leagues 

 square west of the Cordilleras and east of the river Cauca, with the rivers 

 Tacurmbi on the north and Zegues on the south. This country was called &quot;El 

 Dorado.&quot; The natives were- adepts in working metals. The gold was alloyed 

 with copper from 10 up to 50 per cent, and perhaps more. It was wrought by 

 hammering, casting, and possibly by soldering. The gold ornaments are of every 



