198 



A STUDY OF CHIRIQUIAN ANTIQUITIES. 



The ancient Chiriquians were very fond of rattles. It is not surprising that 

 some of these should have taken the form of the common sleigh-bell of the north. 

 The simplest form consists of a hollow globular body slit underneath and provided 

 with a loop at the top and a relatively large metal pellet within. It seems to be 

 genetically related to the bell-shaped projecting eyes of the frog (see PI. XLVIII, 

 fio\ b, and text-fig. 347). These bells are made of copper washed with gold, also 

 of practically pure gold. A tiny example in copper 1 is given in figure 327. This 



Fig. 326. 



Fig. 327. 



Fig. 328. 



Fig. 326. — Copper tweezers perforated for suspension. V 1 



Fig. 327. — Small copper bell fashioned like the modern sleigh-bell. V 



Fig. 328. — Base metal bell representing the human head. Lamson collection. '/■ 



simple type may be varied so as to represent the human head, as shown in 

 figure 328, a specimen belonging to Dr. Wm. J. Lamson of Summit, N. J. The 

 relatively large pellet inside resembles a dropping of copper. The prominent ears 

 are represented by coils of wire. A similar (bronze) bell from the Stearns collection 

 was figured by Holmes. In both cases the human features are inverted when 

 the bell is suspended from its loop. The jaguar's head is also employed as a bell, 

 one of this kind from Rio General, Costa Rica, having 

 recently been obtained by Mr. Minor C. Keith. 



The most remarkable of the base metal figurines be- 

 longs to Dr. Lamson and is reproduced in figure 329. It 

 represents a frog and is fashioned with much skill, the 

 whole being cast. The exaggerated flattening of the hind- 

 feet is due in part to hammering and is almost constant 

 among the metal figurines of the frog. Its significance 

 will be noted later. The forefeet are plain rings for 

 suspension. The ancient Chiriquians were not always 

 satisfied with the realistic representation of the animal 

 form as a complete and single zoomorphic unit. They 

 sometimes combined parts of distinctly different animals 

 into one. More often they would ornament an otherwise 

 complete animal figure with motives derived from a wholly 

 different kind of animal or from parts thereof. Such is 

 the case here, where the frog's head is decorated with two conventionalized 

 alligator heads, each recognized by an eye, upper jaw with recurved snout and 

 lower jaw, the latter in each case being curved downward and backward to fuse 

 1 Dr. Mathewson finds that this specimen contains 20 per cent gold and a trace of silver. 



Fig. 329. — Base metal casting 

 representing a frog, the head 

 of which is adorned with two 

 conventionalized alligator 

 heads. Lamson collection. V 1 



