COLLECTION FROM PERU, SOUTH AMERICA. 



A number of interesting articles were presented by Mr. G. H. Hurlbut. 

 These were obtained from ancient graves in the vicinity of Lima by an 

 agent sent out for the purpose by Mr. Hurlbut while the city was in- 

 vested by the Chilian army. Details of their occurrence were conse- 

 quently not obtained. 



A study of this collection leads to the belief that all the specimens 

 are from one interment, that is, the grave of a single individual. The 

 fact that there is but one skull, one mask like idol, and but a small 

 number of articles of each of the classes represented, tends to confirm 

 this supposition. 

 G5377. Skull retaining the scalp and hair. The latter is long, coarse, 



and black. The lower jaw is missing. 

 0537U. A mask like wooden figure, the face being somewhat above life- 

 size. Fig. 198. It is of a form not unusual in Peruvian 

 graves. The features are fairly well shown. The eyes are 

 formed by excavating oval depressions and setting in pieces 

 of shell. First, oval pieces of white clam-shell are inserted, 

 which represent the whites of the eye; upon these small cir- 

 cular bits of dark shell are cemented, representing the pupils. 

 Locks of hair have been set in beneath the shell, the ends of 

 which project, forming the lashes of the eye. 



The back head is formed by a neatly-rounded bundle of 

 leaves, held in place by a net-work of coarse cord. The 

 edges of the wooden mask are perforated in several places ; 

 by means of these the back head, some long locks of fine flax 

 which serve as hair, and a number of other articles have 

 been attached. 



Upon the crown a large bunch of brilliantly colored feath 

 ers has been fixed ; behind this, extending across the top of 

 the head, is a long pouch of coarse white cloth in which a 

 great number of articles have been placed — little packages of 

 beans and seeds, rolls of cloth of different colors and textures, 

 minute bundles of wool and flax and cords, bits of copper and 

 earth carefully wrapped in husks, bundles of feathers, etc. 



Encircling the crown are long, narrow bands or sashes, one 

 of which is white, the others having figures woven in brilliant 

 colors. The ends of these hang down at the sides of the 

 face. Attached to one side of the mask by long stout cords 

 is a pouch of coarse cotton cloth resembling a tobacco-bag. 

 It is about 6 inches square. Attached to the lower edge of 

 this is a fringe of long, heavy cords. To the opposite side a 



