HOLMES.] STOOLS. 27 



A fine example of medium size is given in Fig. 10. The material 

 is gray, minutely cellular, basaltic rock. The upi^er surface of the 

 plate is polishtMl l.v IK." T'v. .-..tir.. i.."-ti, i. , : ;,.,.i,,.. 



Fia. 10. Puma shaped 



The largest specimen in the McNiel collection is 3 feet long, 18 

 inches wide, and 12 inches high. A similar piece has been illustrated 

 by De Zeltuer. 



The usual office of these metates is considered to be that of grind- 

 ing corn, cocoa, and the like. The great elaboration observed in 

 some examples suggests the idea that perhaps they were devoted 

 exclusively to the preparation of material (meal or other substances) 

 intended for sacred uses. A high degree of elaboration in art prod- 

 ucts resvilts in many cases from their connection with superstitious 

 usages. 



Speculating upon the use of these objects, De Zeltner mentions a 

 mortar "whose pestle was nothing but a round stone, which still 

 shows traces of gold here and there. It was evidently with the help 

 of this rude instrument that the Indians reduced the gold to powder 

 before fiising it.'" 



The implement or pestle used in connection with these mealing 

 tablets in crushing and grinding is often a simple river worn pebble, 

 as mentioned above, biit is more usiially a cylindrical mass of volcanic 

 rock, worked into nearly symmetric shape. 



Stools. — The stool-like ap])carariri' of some of the ol)jects described 

 as metates suggests the ]avsi>iil,itioii in this place of a group of ob- 

 jects that must for the present he classed as stools or seats, although 

 their true or entire function is unknown to me. They are di.stin- 

 guished from the mealing stones by their circular plate, their sharply 

 defined, upright, marginal rim, and the absence of signs of use. 



Two of these objects are from the vicinity of David. The largest 



' A. De Zeltner : Notes sur les sepultures indiennes, p. 7. 



