MATERIALS UPON WHICH PICTOGRAPHS ARE MADE. 



These may be divided into: 



1st. Natural objects other than the human person. 



I'd. The human person. 



3d. Artificial objects. 



NATURAL OBJECTS. 



Under the first head, the most important division is that of rocks 

 and stones, mauy examples of which have already been presented. In 

 addition to those respecting stone, Mr. Gilbert furnishes some data 

 relating to the sacred stone kept by the Indians of the village of Oraibi, 

 on the Mold mesas. This stone was seen by Messrs. John W. Young 

 and Andrew S. Gibbon, and the notes were made by Mr. Gilbert from 

 those furnished to him by Mr. Young. Few white men have had access 

 to this sacred record, and but few Indians have enjoyed the privilege. 



Mr. Gilbert remarks that " the stone was evidently squared by the 

 eye and not by any instrument. The engraving seems to have been 

 done with some rude instrument, but executed with some degree of 

 skill, like an ancient art faded into dim remembrance of the artist or 

 writer of the characters. The stone is a red clouded marble, entirely 

 different from anything found in the region, so I learn by the Indians. 

 The stone is badly woru, and some of the characters are difficult to 

 determine." 



According to the notes accompanying the rude drawings of this 

 stone, it is an oblong rectangle, measuring llf inches long, 7$ inches 

 wide, and li inches thick. On one side there is an interior space, also 

 an oblong rectangle measuring about three-fourths of the size of the 

 whole tablet, between which and the outer margin are six nude human 

 figures resembling one another, one at either end and two on each of 

 the. two sides. The interior space may have contained characters, 

 though no traces are now visible. 



On the other side are drawings of the sun, clouds with rain descend- 

 ing therefrom, lightning, stars, arrows, foot-prints of the bear, and 

 several other undeterminable characters. 



No history of the origin and import of this tablet has been obtained. 



Other materials may be mentioned as follows : 

 58 



