66 ISLAND CULTURE AREA OF AMERICA [etii. ann. 34 



There are several shell mounds on the eastern coast of Trinidad 

 which show frafrments of jjottery and other rejecta, and several 

 heaps on the southern shore that are superficially composed of shells. 

 In the so-called shell heajis at San Jose tlie shells are few and incon- 

 spicuous, but in a midden at Point Mayaro, wliich covers a fairly 

 large area, many characteristic potsherds may still be found on the 

 surface. As a rule these shell heaps are not far from the shore, but 

 in several instances they lie inland.^' 



Fragments of pottery from this region sent to the author by Mr. 

 Dearie, of Port of Spain, differ from those of Erin Bay, but appar- 

 ently were made by people in the same stage of culture. There is a 

 small collection from this region in the Heye Museum, obtained after 

 this report was completed, which contains a number of highly in- 

 structive heads and other fragments. This i^ottery is colored white 

 and purple-red, whereas that from the shell heap at Erin Bay has a 

 bright red superficial slip, although the color is often worn, showing 

 gray beneath. 



Chip-Chip Shell Heap 



The largest shell heap in Trinidad, locally known as Chip-chiji 

 hill, situated at Erin, a short distance from the shore, covers several" 

 acres and forms a considerable elevation. Upon this mound are 

 constructed tlie government buildings, the police station, and the 

 warden's office. The author obtained from tlie assistant warden, 

 Mr. John Menzies, ^^ permission to make excavations in that part of 

 the shell heap situated on Crown land, but was obliged to suspend 

 work on the private land adjoining, as it could not be thoroughly 

 explored without injury to the property. The specimens, altiiough 

 limited in quantity, are the most numerous known, and give a fair 

 idea of the nature of the contents of a typical Trinidad shell heap. 



Chip-chip hill was first described by Mr. Collens. whose excavations 

 therein were rewarded with several fine specimens, now on exhibition 

 in the Victoria Institute at Port of Spain. These objects are figured 

 b}' Collens in his Handbook of Trinidad,-"" and are also illustrated by 

 the present author in his Aborigines of Porto Eico.^® 



Some limited excavations were also made at Chip-chij) hill by Eev. 

 Thomas Huckerby, of San Fernando, several years after Collens 

 finished his work, but only a few fragments of pottery, now in the 

 Heye Museum, were obtained. 



" Efforts to find evidences that man inhabited the numerous caves in Trinidad, or used 

 them for burial purposes, have not been rewarded with success, although many caves, 

 especially those near Pedro Martin's basin, were examined. 



^ The author is very grateful to Mr. Menzies for his aid, and takes this opportunity to 

 thank him .for his many kindnesses while at Erin Bay. He Is likewise indebted to 

 Mr. Dearie, of Port of Spain, for voluntary aid in the excavations, 



=«• Collens. J. H. Guide to Trinidad. London, 1888. 



=" Twenty-fifth Ana. Rept. Bur, Amer. Ethn., pi. ixxxv. 



