313 



the mummy had taken place ; and the different articles that 

 had heen removed from it and cleaned, were exhibited, as 

 well as the mummy itself, to the meeting. The pottery-ware 

 vessels, which were placed underneath the chin, and which 

 were supposed to have been used for making the infusion of 

 the yerba de Paraguay, or mattee tea, at present a custom in 

 that country, are of great beauty in colour, form, and orna- 

 ment. One of them had the mark of fire on its outer side ; 

 the other, some crystals of salt round its aperture. Two bags 

 of plain woollen cloth, and sewn up the sides, were found to 

 contain a quantity of finely ground meal of a brown colour, 

 still possessing some flavour, and having a saltish taste; and 

 in one of the bags were also discovered two heads of small 

 Indian corn, in great preservation. Two other bags of great 

 beauty of texture, and brilliancy of colour, woven in stripes 

 of blue and red, contained a quantity of dried leaves sup- 

 posed to be the cocco, and a small quantity of clay-like 

 burned substance. Both these bags are of exquisite work- 

 manship, and bespeak a great pei'fection of the arts among 

 this people ; one was adorned with a handsome tassel work 

 not unlike a lady's reticule : both were tied at top with a 

 slip knot. All those substances were no doubt placed to 

 afford a supply of food for the journey of the deceased to the 

 land of spirits. The piece of cloth which surrounded all 

 those, and which was fastened round the neck, was also ex- 

 hibited, and appeared to be the remains of some old article 

 of dress belonging to the deceased, from its similarity to the 

 kilt and apron which surrounded the lower part of the 

 body. These latter consisted of a broad piece of woollen 

 cloth of different colours, tied round the loins ; and the 

 apron, which was of different colours, was fastened on the 

 front of the body by strings which went over the shoulders. 

 During the examination, a small curious beetle was disco- 

 vered by Mr. Ball, on which Mr. Curtis, of London, writes, 

 " undoubtedly itisatrue Ptinus ofLinnagus, although it seems 



2 E 



