38 ANCIENT ART OF THE PROVINCE OF CHIRIQUI. 



metal is afterwards poured in. As a matter of course, both the mold 

 aud the model are destroyed in each case, and exact duplications are 

 not to be expected. Mr. George F. Kunz, of New York, with whom 

 I have discussed this matter, states that he has seen live objects, siich 

 as insects, used as models in this way. Being coated with washes of 

 clay or like suUstancc until well pi-dtcrtcd and tliuii heavily cuvered. 

 they were pi arc. 1 in the rui-iiacr. 'rhcaiiiinal maltiT was tlms ivduced 

 to ashes aud extracted tlinmgli small openings made tni' the purpose. 



As bearing upon this subject it should be mentioned that occa- 

 sionally small figures in a fine reddish resin are obtained from the 

 graves of Chiriqui. They are identical in style of modeling with 

 the objectsof gold and copper dlitaiued from the same source. 



In discussing possible processes. Mr. William Hallock, of the divis- 

 ion of chemistry and physics of the United States Geological Sur- 

 vey, suggested that if the various sections of a metal ornament were 

 embedded in the surface of a mass of fire clay in their proper rela- 

 tions and contacts they could then be completely inclosed in the mass 

 and subjected to heat until the metal melted and ran together. After 

 cooling, the complete figure could be removed by breaking up the 

 clay matrix. I imagine that in such work much difficulty would be 

 experienced in securing proper contact and adjustment of parts of 

 complex figures. It will likewise be observed that evidences of 

 plasticity in the modeling material would not exist. I must not pass 

 a suggestion of Nadaillac' which offers a possible solution of the 

 problem of manipulation. Referring- to a statement of the early 

 Spanish explorers that smelting was unknown to the inhabitants of 

 Peru, he states that it would be possible for a people in a low state 

 of culture to discover that an amalgam of gold with mercury is 

 quite plastic, and that after a figure is modeled in this composite 

 metal the mercury may be dissipated by heat, leaving the form in 

 gold, which then needs only to be polished. There is, however, no 

 evidence whatever that these people had any knowledge of mercury. 



There is no indication of carving or engraving in the Chiriquian 

 work. In finishing, some of the extremities seem to have been shaped 

 by hammering. This was a mere flattening out of the feet or parts 

 of the accessories, which required no particular skill and could have 

 been accomplished with comparatively rude stone hammers. It is a 

 remarkable fact that many, if not most, of the objects appear to be 

 either plated or washed with pure gold, the body or foundation being 

 of base gold or of nearly pure copper. This fact, coupled with that 

 of the association of objects of bronze with the relics, leads us to in- 

 quire carefully into the jiossibilities of European influence or agency. 

 I obsei-\'e thai i-ecent writ ers do Hot seem to have questioned tin' gen- 

 uineness of tlieolijectsdescril)ed hy them, but that at the same time no 

 mention is made of the plating or washing. This latter circumstance 



' Nadaillac: Prehistoric America, p. 450. 



