HOLMES. | 



COILED VASE FROM MANCOS CANON. 



285 



that one of my men hart followed me and was excitedly seratching with 

 a stick among the debris of fallen walls. He hart just discovered the 

 rim of a buried pot, and was fairly breathless from the anticipation of 

 " piles of moons." By the aid of my geologic hammer we soon had the 

 upper part of the neck uncovered, but hesitated a moment with bated 

 breath before venturing to raise the rough stone lid. But there was 

 no treasure — only a heap of dust. I was content, however, and when 

 by a little further search we came upon a second vessel, a mate to the 

 first, the momentary shades of disappointment vanished. 



These vessels had been placed in a small recess, where the falling 

 walls bad not reached tliem, and were standing just as they had been 



Fig. 239.— Coiled vase from a cliffio 



) iu the MancoB Canon, Colorado. - 



left by their ancient possessors. The more perfect one, which had lost 

 only a small chip from the rim, I determined to bring away entire. 

 This I succeeded in doing by wrapping it in a blanket, and by means of 

 straps, slinging it across my back. I carried it thus for a number of 

 days over the rough trails of the canons and plateaus. The other, 

 which was badly cracked when found, was pulled apart and packed 

 away in one of the mess chests. It is now with its mate in the National 

 Museum, perfectly restored. 



