HOLMES] FABKIC-MARKED VOTTKRY 195 



It ijs the product of peoples of the same general level of culture as 

 those found in possession of the region, and is no doubt largely the 

 work of the present inhabitants, the modern representatives of the 

 great Algoncjuian and Siouan families. A number of these tribes 

 continued to practice this art down to the period of English and 

 French occupation, and the Mandans, the Grosventres, and possibly 

 others, were making their simple ware luitil within the present 

 generation. 



Catlin describes the work of the Mandans (Siouan family) of sixty 

 years ago, and his account is quoted in the introductory pages of this 

 pajjer. Traditional accounts of the practice of the art are given by 

 several authors. George Bird Grinnell, already quoted in the intro- 

 duction, records definite traditions of the making of pottery by the 

 Pawnees, and Mr A. J. Comfort states that — 



Earthen vessels were in use by our Dakotas during the childliood of men still liv- 

 ing (about 1870). I have interrogated separately and on different occasions the 

 principal and most reliable men of the Sissiton and Wahpeton tribes, all of whom 

 tell the same story of having seen earthen kettles for culinary purjioses iu use by 

 their parents." 



An early explorer in the great Northwest, the Prince of Wied, 

 speaking of the Mandans, Minitaris, and Arikaras, declares that — 



These three nations understand the manufacture of earthen pots and vessels of 

 various forms and sizes. The clay is of a dark slate color and Ijurns a yellowish red, 

 very similar to what is seen in the burnt tops of the Missouri hills. This clay is 

 mixed with flint or granite reduced to powder by the action of fire. The work- 

 woman forms the hollow inside of the vessel by means of a round stone which she 

 holds in her hand, while she works and smooths the outside with a piece of poplar 

 bark. AVhen the pot is made it is filled and surrounded with dry shavings and then 

 burnt, when it is ready for use. They know nothing of glazing, b 



It is quite impossible to present this pottery in detail, and the wares 

 of a few widely scattered localities may be chosen as typical of all. 

 Wisconsin has many sites rich in sherds of thi.s ware. Two Rivers, 

 situated midwaj' on the west shore of Lake Michigan, occupies an 

 ancient and important village site, and large quantities of pottery frag- 

 ments have been unearthed through the per.severing efforts of Mr H. P. 

 Hamilton, of the cit}", manj^ of these specimens have been preserved 

 and placed within the reach of students. The large vessel shown in 

 plate CLXxiii was dug up in 1901, and is described as follows in a letter 

 transmitting the photograph here reproduced: 



I have just succeeded in restoring an earthen vessel — the first I have been success- 

 ful with, and I have been trying for years. This vessel was discovered in the sand 

 about four blocks from our office, near the lake shore, where innumerable vessels 

 have been destroyed. The sand had thawed out for about 4 inches and the vessel 

 was broken into some 200 pieces. Hot water and fire were resorted to and most of 



nComfort, A. J., Smithsonian Report, 1871, p. 402. 



^ Maximilian (Prince of Wied), Travels in the Interior of North America, p. 348. 



