136 ISLAND CULTURE AEEA OF AMERICA [bth. ann.34 



'"'' Netting needles. — There is one small netting needle, very well 

 made and very regular, which evidently served to net cotton, and 

 two other larger, more massive ones, which served to prepare cords. 



'■'' Idols. — The idols are six in number : 



" 1st. One representing a man extended on his back, the legs bent 

 under him, the arms applied to the chest, the head covered with a 

 cap, the sexual organs very conspicuous. It is well finished and 

 must have cost years of diligent labor. 



"2d. One representing a man on one face and a monkey on the 

 other, is very interesting. It M'as found at Matouba. The work 

 on this statuette is rude. The hand that made it was wanting in 

 skill. But what shall we say of the genius which inspired this 

 combination of man and monkey? Should we not consider Darwin 

 only a plagiarist? 



" 3d. Another found in Guadeloupe, of the same type as that from 

 Porto Kico, but much larger and so rough that it can not be de- 

 termined what it represents. The undersurface is slightly concave. 



" 4th. A small granite pyramid, with three grooves or furrows 

 on its lower part. It was found on the island of L)esirade. 



" 5th. A head with two faces surmounted by a Phrygian cap. This 

 head was to be fixed on another stone or a piece of wood forming 

 the body of the idol, for it is much too heavy to admit of the sup- 

 position that it was carried in the hand. I have vainly searched 

 for this complemental lower portion at the place where I found the 

 head. 



"With this last idol we must place an ax and one other piece, 

 both having lines identical with those of the idol head. I think they 

 represent faces. 



^^ Amulets. — The principal amulet is of carbonate of lime in bladed 

 crystallization. It represents a mahoya (evil spirit), with bended 

 arms and legs, and the virile organ in a state of action. The 

 shoulders are pierced posteriorly to allow of the suspension of the 

 amulet. The other amulets are medallions of different sizes, more 

 or less round, all pierced with a small hole to admit of suspension. 

 I have a single small crescent of stone, an evident representation 

 of the caracoli of metal. This crescent must have been set in wood, 

 unless it was provided with a cotton string terminating at each ex- 

 tremity in a small cord for suspension. 



'■'■Disl-s or qvoits. — I have six disks, large and small. One espe- 

 cially is a very remarkable piece of work. There is no doubt aljout 

 the determination of these relics. The Caribs played quoits. 



^'■Edkule. — A small monument having handles on each side; on 

 top of the handles a platform disappearing under a vault. There is 

 a hole in the middle, presumably the place for an idol. This relic 

 is very curious, and reminds one of the Mexican teocalli. 



