30 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



lias examined the contents of several mounds and Indian graves, from 

 •which he obtained for us many interesting articles, the principal of which 

 are earthenware vases in good preservation and of curious forms, ap- 

 proaching that of the vessels common among the tribes of Chili aud Peru, 

 evidently for holding water, most of them having very narrow openings, 

 and being spherical in shape ; also, stone hammers, chisels, pestles, 

 carved pipes of sandstone, a disk of quartz, bowls and cups of earthen- 

 ware, &c. 



In Texas, Dr. D. H. McElderry, stationed at Fort Griffin, has assid- 

 uously collected from the tribes near his post many objects of interest; 

 among which we may enumerate three Comanche war shields painted 

 and ornamented, bows, bow case, arrows, quiver, scalp knife, and sheath, 

 war drum, tomahawk, and riding whip, all of which belong to a warrior's 

 equipment. The other articles are implements for dressing skins; 

 tinder bag; dance ornaments; two head dresses, one made of Comanche 

 hair and the other of a bears ear ; a girdle and pouch made of a Coman- 

 che's skin ; a square girdle and arm and head ornaments, some of silver 

 plates, with toy bows and arrows, and two rag dolls decorated with 

 Comanche hair. Dr. J. Middleton, of Camp Yerde, has presented a 

 saddle obtained from the Kickapoos, and Mr. George Kean, some bony 

 plates of the Lepidosteus, or great western gar, having been used by the 

 southern and western Indians as arrow-heads; a fact in accordance with 

 a statement of William Bartram in his travels in Florida during the last 

 century. 



In Florida, explorations have recently been made in the shell heaps 

 near Tampa Bay by Dr. William Stimpson and Mr. E. C. Stearns. From 

 the former we have received a curious shell implement formed of the 

 columella of the great Fasciolarid gigantea, the use of which is unknown. 

 From Mr. Stearns, a large soapstone vessel, a stone sinker, a spear-head 

 and fragments of pottery. Mr. H. Clark, of the same place, has pre- 

 sented several hammers, a fishing sinker, a number of arrow-heads, and 

 an earthenware vase. 



From Alabama, we have received specimens of arrow-heads, princi- 

 pally of jasper or agate, and of good finish, presented by Mr. Isaac Slee, 

 of Baldwin County, and specimens of the same kind from Mr. Henry C. 

 Force, collected in Northern Alabama, and also specimens of pottery and 

 arrow-heads presented by Dr. Beynolds, United States Army. 



From Georgia, at St. Simon's Island, a favorite station of the South- 

 ern tribes, Dr. C. H. Taylor, United States Army, has forwarded a num- 

 ber of stone axes and arrow-heads, and also pottery from Brunswick 

 County. 



From Virginia, Fayette County, Mr. A. G. Grinnan has presented 

 a collection of stone axes, hammers, chisels, and a finely formed 

 fishing sinker made of hematite, of which we have several specimens 

 from localities widely separated, the weight of the material being its 

 great recommendation for this service. Mr. E. C. Meade, of Albemarle 



