128^ ISLAND CULTURE AREA OF AMERICA [eth. ann. 34 



firmed that there was on the head of it a very sparkling stone, like a 

 Carbuncle, of inestimable price; That it commonly veil'd that rich 

 jewel with a thin moving skin, lilce that of a mans eye-lid; but that 

 when it went to drink, or sported himself in the midst of that deep 

 bottom, he fully discovert! it, and that the rocks and all about re- 

 ceiv'd a wonderful lustre from the fire issuing out of that precious 

 Crown." 



The story of the Man in White from heaven or the slty who 

 brought the blessings of a higher culture has a familiar sound in 

 American aboriginal mythology, and naturally reminds one of the 

 Quetzalcoatl myth of the neighboring Central America. He brought 

 them the gift of the national food plant, the yuca. and was no doubt 

 worshipped on that account. 



Not less aboriginal is the story of the (ireat Serpent who lived in 

 the bottom of the lake and M'ore the sparkling stone in his head which 

 lighted up the cliifs. This might well be a myth of the Sky God, 

 who was worshipped in the form of a snake. 



MAETINIQUE 



Less is Icnown of the archeology of Martinique than of any other 

 West Indian island. The specimens from that island in different 

 collections differ so little from those of Santa Lucia and Dominica 

 that the island is put in the same culture area, although its relation- 

 ship to Dominica and Guadeloupe is closer than to St. Vincent and 

 the Grenadines. 



There is a small public collection at Fort de France which was not 

 A'isited by the author. The gi-eat volcanic activity of Mont Pelee 

 shortly before the author's visit had about depopulated all the 

 northern region of the island. 



GUADELOUPE 



The most aberrant island, archeologically speaking, of the St. 

 Vincent culture area, is Guadeloupe, from which there are few, if 

 any, specimens in the Heye collection. In order, however, to give an 

 adequate idea of the objects from this area the author made new 

 studies of the famous Guesde collection now in the Berlin Museum 

 fiir Volkerkunde and has embodied the results of his work in the 

 following pages. It was found necessary to prepare new illustra- 

 tions'® of the Guesde objects, which are also introduced into this 

 report. 



'« These iUustratlons were prepared by Mr. von den Steinen with permission ot the 

 director of the museum. 



