11 



of Kiushiu, without meeting with a single example of those objects above men- 

 tioned. 



It may be suggested that the clay tablets, to be described further on, were 

 objects of this nature, but I am inclined to believe that they were not intended 

 for this purpose. 



Tiie clay bead which is figured, natural size, on plate XV., is made of coarse 

 slate-colored clay. It is dead black on the outside, and has a surface resembling 

 many of the ornamented vessels. 



The markings, consisting of curved lines and deep incisions and punctures, 

 are arranged in graceful designs which are repeated three times round the circum- 

 ference. The hole is eight and a half millimeters in diameter, is straight, and 

 of the same diameter throughout. Within the hole, light spiral lines are 

 plainly seen, indicating that the bead was fashioned and wrought on a round 

 stick, and that the stick was afterward withdrawn, and twisted several tim^s in 

 the act of withdrawing, — this act being performed while the clay was yet soft. 



Mr. Tauela has found at Omori, too late for illustration, a fragment of pot- 

 tery which has been broken into an irregular oval shape and the rough edges 

 partially ground or worn down. Its longest diameter is 75 mm. with a width 

 of 05 mm. and a thickness of 9 mm. In a line with the longest diameter the 

 edges are deeply and smoothly notched. A narrow and deeper channel at the 

 base of the notches suggests the idea that the object has been tied, or bound by 

 a cord which passed through these notches. 



The fragment is much worn. It is impossible to suggest its use, though it is 

 described under this head for want of a more appropriate place. 



TABLETS. 



I have designated these curious clay objects as Tablets, for want of a better 

 name. Five tablets have Ihus far been found ; four of them have the same 

 general proportions, as will be seen by reference to plate XV., where they are 

 all figured, natural size. The fifth one is smaller than the others, though near- 

 ly as thick. 



The designs are widely different in each one, though a surface of one of the 

 larger specimens is similar in design to that made on the smaller specimen. 

 Two of them have designs in relief with depressed areas. The designs on the 

 others are produced by the figures being cut out on a flat surface, and one, fig. 1, 

 has a hole through one of its corners. 



While differing so much in design, they possess some characters in common. 

 They are all made of the finest cla3', the material being much finer than that 

 used in most of the vessels. They are all light colored, two of them being a 



