184* 



THE SERI INDIANS 



lETH. ANM. 17 



cations together it would seem probable that the 

 ware is made by the M'omeu, and that each piece is 

 shaped from a lump of tempered and well-kueaded 

 clay of suitable size, first hollowed aud rudely shaped 

 over one haud, aud gradually expauded by spiral 

 rubbing, kneadiug, aud pressure between the hands 

 of the maker. The burniug is iucomplete aud vari- 

 able, suggesting a little outdoor tire iu a shallow pit 

 adapted to a single vessel. The ware is without 

 glaze or slip or other surticial treatment save that 

 the lamellar texture is best developed toward the 

 surfaces; heuce it is so porous that the filled vessel is 

 moist even iu the sun. 

 Ordinarily womeu are the water-bearers, each car- 

 rying an olla 



balanced ou 

 the head with 

 the aid of a 

 slightly elas- 

 tic annular 

 cushion, usu- 

 ally fashioned 

 of yucca fiber 

 (plate XXXII 

 aud figure 

 15), though iu 

 some cases 

 two ollas are 

 slung iu nets 

 at the ends of 

 a yoke (figure 



Fm.lo-SerioIfariDg. j^g^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ 



Chinese coolie fashion (this device being apparently 

 accultural). 



The function of the conventional Seri olla is exclu- 

 sively that of a canteen or water-carrying vessel, and 

 its form is;>uited to no other use; while its lines, like 

 its Ihiuuess of wall, are adapted to the stresses of 

 interual aud exterual pressure in such wise as to give 

 maximum strength with minimum weight. It is by 

 reason of this remarkably delicate adaptation of 

 materials to purposes that the plain olla figured iu 

 plate XXXIII, weighing an ounce or two more than 10 

 pounds in dry air, holds aud safely carries three and 

 one-third times its weight of water. When such ollas 

 are broken, the larger ijieces may be used as cui)s or 



i' ' 



m 



FiQ. 16— Water 

 bearer's yoke. 



