Plates 24 and 25. 
Plate 24 is a photograph of a large marine conch shell (Busycon perversum). The 
inside of the shell has been cut away by the Indians to make a container for liquids 
(Catalog No. 20X101, provenience unknown). Plate 25 illustrates a representation 
of a conch shell in pottery from Fulton County, Kentucky (Catalog No. 8X31 
possibly made by Indians who had seen one, but lacked the real thing. Conch shell 
containers were often traded far inland and are sometimes found buried with the 
dead, It is known from a number of descriptions of the customs of the southeastern 
Indians by early explorers and traders that such containers were used for drinking 
the black drink, which is described below (Williams, 1930, p. 49) 
The Black Drink 
an ion parched | f a species of holly (Ilex vomitoria) called t the Indians cassina 
in some places, yaupon in othets, This holy shrub is f J Florida to Texa south i and northern Arkansa 
Ferrad, #950, . 981). The drink by historic Indi i for | fi the Creek Indians the 
st i j they believed, to invigorate mind and body and prep; are for thous pe debate. It was also used 
nksgiving. A strong infusion of me drink | nas purg aulve, resins Posies ui tic _ cts, Investigation has 
sown that the plant contains deo ps that a beverage made ea and coffee (Hodge, 
Part 1, 1912, p. 150). 
A drink made from the leaves of a species of holly 8 pa ) drunk fod ay in ts of — Swegeg a instead of tea or coffee. 
It is called Paraguey tea or Mate, and it may es some mobkago and he in the ed States 
An illustration of Indians in Florid king the black drink is shown below. (Fig eure 3), it: vas copied from a painting by pig French artis 
LeMoyne, who w to thi t bout A.D. 1565. The { t (Lorant, 1946, f 
Figure 3. 
