142 JOURNAL. 



whence the clay has been dug, or rather scraped with the hands, 

 serve for this purpose. The wood chiefly used for these simple fur- 

 naces is the espinella or small thorn, not at all the same as the espina 

 or common firewood of the country, which is the mimosa, whose 

 flowers are highly aromatic. The espinella has more the appear- 

 ance of a thorny coronilla. It is said to make the most ardent fire 

 of any of the native woods. The pottery here is only for the most 

 ordinary utensils ; but I have seen some jars from Melipilla and 

 Penco which in shape and workmanship might pass for Etruscan. 

 These are sometimes sold for as high prices as fifty dollars, and are 

 used for holding water. They are ornamented with streaks, and vari- 

 ous patterns, in white and red clay, where the ground is black ; and 

 where it is red or brown, with black and white. Some of the red jars 

 have these ornaments of a shining substance that looks like gold 

 dust, which is, I believe, clay having pyrites of iron ; and many 

 have grotesque heads, with imitations of human arms for handles, 

 and ornaments indented on them ; but, excepting in the forming of 

 the heads and arms, I do not recollect any Chileno vase with raised 

 decorations. * 



* On the Peruvian vases procured from the tombs, there are many and various patterns 

 in relief; but I have not seen any modern Peruvian pottery. 



