82 MOETAES AND PESTLES. 



described, is regularly shaped, but lias a portion chipped off the side near 

 the bottom ; perhaps accidentally detached in making the vessel. 



The measurements are : Greatest diameter, 5.8 inches ; height, exte- 

 riorly, 3.8 inches ; depth of vessel inside, 2.3 inches ; breadth of rim, .6 of 

 an inch. 



A smooth, hard sandstone mortar from La Patera is quite irregular 

 in shape, and has the rim very undulating-. 



The measurements are : Greatest diameter, 4.8 inches by 5.5 inches ; 

 height, exteriorly, 4.6 inches ; depth of vessel inside, 3 inches ; breadth of 

 rim, .5 of an inch. 



A very symmetrically shaped specimen (Fig. 11, Plate V), of hard, fine- 

 grained, light-colored sandstone, has the bottom very flat and distinct from 

 the sides on the outside, but curved and continuous with the sides on the 

 interior. There is marked uniformity in the width of the rim and thick- 

 ness throughout the sides and bottom of the vessel. There is some discol- 

 oration from the characteristic red pigment that may have been pulverized 

 in many of these mortars ; and one of this size was probably used more for 

 this than any other purpose. 



The measurements are: Greatest diameter, 5.1 inches; height, exte- 

 riorly, 2.8 inches ; depth of vessel inside, 2.1 inches ; breadth of rim, .5 of 

 an inch. 



The detailed descriptions above given of forty-four examples of these 

 mortars, varying from what may be considered the maximum to the minimum 

 sizes, in connection with the several illustrations, give a good general idea 

 of their range of variation, not only in size, but in shape and style of deco- 

 ration. Except as exhibiting proofs of excellent mechanical skill, great 

 patience, and long-continued labor, as a class these productions of aboriginal 

 art are not particularly attractive objects.* 



Similar forms of vessels appear to be unusual in other localities in 

 North America ; their place being taken by an occasional small example of 



*The Rev. Stephen Bowers, in a MS. entitled "Aboriginal Man in Santa Barbara County, Cali- 

 fornia," as I am informed by Dr. Yarrow, mentions having found mortars different in shape and form 

 from any here described, which had on the sides square projections left in the carving by which they 

 could be lifted. As none of these have reached either the Smithsonian Institution or Peabody Museum, 

 a more detailed description is impossible. 



