SwANTON] INDIAJSIS OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES 549 



ever, fishweirs were made of wooden piles interwoven with flexible 

 withes. Still another use of rocks was as altars. The early writers 

 on Virginia speak of these as if they were common in the Algonquian 

 country, one consisting of a solid block of crystal being particularly 

 noteworthy (Beverley, 1705, bk. 2, pp. 10-11) , but fewer are mentioned 

 in the rest of the region under discussion. It remains to be seen 

 whether or not this omission is of cultural significance. 



POTTERY 



From stone we turn to artificial stone. When one considers that 

 the Southeast was one of the great pottery-making areas of North 

 America, it is surprising what a small amount of information early 

 writers vouchsafe regarding it. In 1541, when the Chickasaw at- 

 tacked De Soto's army, then in occupancy of their town, Biedma tells 

 us that, after the manner of Gideon, they brought fire in little pots, 

 presumably made of clay, with which to ignite the houses (Bourne, 

 1904, vol. 2, p. 23). We are also told that large pots were used in 

 making salt in the province of Tanico, probably in southern Arkansas 

 (Robertson, 1933, p. 193). The only mention of pottery for its own 

 sake by these chroniclers is by the Fidalgo of Elvas who, in his 

 description of the "province of Naguatex," occupied by Caddo people, 

 says: "Pottery is made there of refined clay, which differs but little 

 from that of Estremoz or Montemor" (Robertson, 1933, p. 257), and 

 in fact, Caddo pottery has always been noted for its excellence. 



Although Du Pratz's description of pottery makmg is thrown 

 into a hypothetical form, it seems to represent the process as he had 

 observed it among the Natchez. He says that the women 



go in search of heavy earth, examine it in the form of dust [i.e., before it had 

 been wet], throwing out whatever grit they find, malie a sufiiciently firm 

 mortar, and then establish their workshop on a flat board, on which they shape 

 the pottery with their fingers, smoothing it by means of a stone which is pre- 

 served with great care for this work. As fast as the earth dries they put on 

 more, assisting with the hand on the other side. After all these operations, 

 it is baked by means of a great fire. 



These women also make pots of an extraordinary size, jugs with a medium- 

 sized opening, bowls, two-pint bottles with long necks, pots or jugs for bear's 

 oil, which hold as many as 40 pints, also dishes and plates like those of the 

 French. I have had some made out of curiosity on the model of my earthen- 

 ware. They were of a rather beautiful red color. (Le Page du Pratz, 1758, 

 vol. 2, pp. 178-179 ; Swanton, 1911, p. 62.) 



