Shell- Trumpets and their Distribution. 49 



of trumpets, were found in the course of the excavations 

 at Casa Grande, the greater number being obtained on 

 the west side of Compound B. All these shells came 

 originally from the Pacific coast." 



G. H. Pepper, in his paper on " The Exploration of a 

 burial-room in Pueblo Bonito, New Mexico,""^ also records 

 the discovery of a shell trumpet, made from Strombus 

 galeaius. It had evidently been cracked in use and showed 

 signs of repair. Associated with it was a human skeleton ; 

 also Haliotis shells, and 26 perfect shell bracelets and 15 

 fragments. The bracelets, he adds, averaged 8'5 c/m. in 

 diameter, and are probably made from Pectunculus shells. 

 In other parts of the room were further shell bracelets, 

 pendants, and beads, of Olivella shells ; also ornaments of 

 turquoise and shell mosaic.''- 



Carl Lumholtz, in an interesting paper on " Sym- 

 bolism of the Huichol Indians," "" gives us details of the 

 use of a species of Murex as a trumpet at ceremonies and 

 feasts. After describing various other objects used at the 

 feast of taiuales de mairj crudo, he states (p. 185) : " At the 

 same feast, but only on the eastern side of the river, sea- 

 shells are employed as a kind of musical instrument. 

 When the heap of taniales is dedicated to the gods by the 

 shamans, some of the people are appointed to blow into 

 such shells five times in the daytime and five times at 

 night. This is done as a signal to all the gods. After 

 the feast the shells are carried to Mesa del Nayarit, where 

 they remain through the wet season, to be afterwards 

 brought back again for the next feast of the same kind. 

 They are kept in Mesa del Nayarit in a god-house. 

 According to tradition, the Chichimecas brought them 

 first from that part of the coast where San Bias is to-day." 



"^ Putnam Anniversary Volume 1909, p. 226. 



'= This mosaic recalls the beautiful Haliotis in\a.y of Japanese artisls. 



'' Mem. Anier. Mus. Nat. Hist., iii. ; Anthropology, ii., 1900. 



