HOLMEsJ MANUFACTURE OF POTTERY 57 



EakLY AcCOrXTS op !MAXrFACTl'RE 



For the purpose of showing the close general I'esemblance of the 

 processes here recorded to those of Louisiana Indians witnessed, though 

 inadequately described, by Du Pratz and ButelDuniont one hundred 

 and fifty years ago, I add the following paragraphs from these authors, 

 quite literally ti-ans'lated. 



As soon as these peoples had settleil in a lixeil dwelhng place, it was necessary to 

 find the safest and most convenient method of cooking maize and meats; they 

 bethought themselves of making jjottery. This was the work of the women. They 

 sought for greasy earth, reduced it to powder, rejected the gravel which was found 

 in it, made a sufficiently firm paste, and then established their workshop on a flat 

 block of wood on which they formeil the pottery witli the fingers, smoothing it with 

 a pebble, which was carefully preserved for this purpose. As fast as the clay dried 

 they added more, supporting it with the hand on the other side; after all these 

 operations they baked it by means of a hot fire." 



The following is from Butel-Dumont: 



Moreover, the industry of these Indian girls and women is admirable. I have 

 already reported elsewhere with what skill, with their fingers alone and without a 

 turning lathe they make all sorts of pottery. This is the method they employ: 



After having gathered the earth suitable for this kind of work, and having well 

 cleansed it, they take shells which they grind and reduce to a very fine powder; 

 they mix this very fine dust with the earth which has been provided, and, moist- 

 ening the whole with a little water, they knead it with the hands and feet, form- 

 ing a dough of which they make rolls 6 or 7 feet long and of whatever thickness is 

 desired. Should they wish to fashion a dish or a vessel, they take one of these rolls 

 and, holding down one end with the thumb of the left haml they turn it around 

 with admirable swiftness and dexterity, describing a spiral; from time to time they 

 clip their fingers in water, wliich they are always careful to have near them, and 

 with the right hand they smooth the inside and outside of the vessel they intend to 

 form, which, without this care, would Ije undulated. 



In this manner they make all sorts of utensils of earth, ilishes, plates, pans, pots, 

 and pitchers, some of which contain 40 and .50 jjints. The baking r>f this pottery 

 does not cause them much trouble. After having dried it in tlie shade they build 

 a great fire, and when they think they have enough coals they clear a place in 

 the middle where they arrange the vessels and cover them with the coals. It is 

 thus that they give them the baking which is necessary. After this they can be 

 placed on the fire and have as much firmness as ours. Their strength can only be 

 attributed to the mixture which the women make of the powdered shells with the 

 clay, ft 



A few additional accounts of the making of earthenware by the 

 tribes of the region under review may be quoted. The statements of 

 persons who have not themselves witnessed the processes of manufac- 

 ture maj" in cases be vitiated by information derived through unre- 

 liable sources and should always be carefully' considered with this 

 possibility in view. 



aDu Pratz. Antoine Simon Lu Page. Histoire de la Louisiane, Paris, 1758, vol. ii. pp. 178-79. 

 ^Butel-Dumont, George Marie. Memoiressurla Louisiane. Paris, 17.53, vol. ii, pp, 271-73, 



