20 ANCIENT ART OF THE PROVINCE OF CHIKlgUI. 



M. De Zeltner describes otluu' very simple graves which are filled 

 in with earth, excepting a surface paving of pebbles. 



Mr. McNiel, who has examined more examples than any other white 

 man, and over a wide district with David as a center, discredits the 

 statements of De Zeltner in respect to the form illustrated in Fig. i. 

 and states that generally the graves do not differ greatly in shape 

 and finish from the ordinary graves of to-day. He describes the 

 pits as Ijeing oval and quadrangular and as having a depth ranging 

 from a few feet to 18 feet. The paving or pack consists of earth and 

 water worn stones, the latter pitched in without order and forming 

 but a .small percentage of the filling. He has never seen such stones 

 used in facing the walls of the pit or in the construction of pillars. 

 The flat stones which cover the cist are often 10 or 15 feet below 

 the surface and are in some cases very heavy, weighing .300 jjounds 

 or more. A single stone is in cases large enough to cover the entire 

 space, but more frequently two or more flat stones are laid side by 

 side across the cavity. These are supported by river stones, a foot 

 or more in length, set around the margin of the cist. He is of the 

 ojiinion that both slab.s and bowlders were in many cases carried long 

 ilistances. No one (jf the i)its examined was of the extraordinary 

 form described in detail by De Zeltner and others. 



HUMAN REMAINS. 



The almost total absence of human renuiius has frequently been 

 remarked, and the theory is advanced that cremation must have been 

 practiced. We have no evidence, however, of such a custom among 

 the historic tribes of this region, and, besides, such elaborate tombs 

 would hardly be constri;oted for the deposition of ashes. Yet, con- 

 sidering the depth of the graves, their remarkable construction, and 

 the character of the soil sclccti'il fur burial purposes, it is certainly 

 wonderful that such nicii^cr Iimccs of human remains are found, 

 riuart surmises, from the analogies of modern Ijurial customs upon 

 the north coast, that the bones only were deposited in the graves, the 

 flesh having been allowed to decay by a long period of exposure in the 

 open air. This, however, would probably not materially hasten the 

 decay of the bones. 



Mr. Merritt states that human hair was obtained from graves at 

 Bugaba, and that he has himself secured the enamel of a molar tooth 

 from that locality. De Zeltner tells us that in three varieties of 

 graves remains of skeletons are found, always, however, in a very 

 fragile condition. One skull was obtained of sufficient stability to be 

 cast in plaster, but De Zeltner is not certain that it belonged to the 

 l)eople who built the tombs. 



Mr. McNiel reports the occasional finding of l)ones. and a number 

 of bundles of them are included in his collection. He reports that 

 there are no crania and that nothing could be determined as to the 

 position of the bodies when first buried. 



