94 



COOKING POTS AND FOOD VESSELS. 



The several illustrations and following descriptions of a number of speci- 

 mens will give an idea of the general character of these interesting produc- 

 tions of savage art. Figs. 32 and 33 represent the prevailing forms of the 



Fig. 32. 



Steatite cooking pot, -J. 



large cooking pots. As will be seen by reference to the dimensions given, 

 the same variation in size occurs in this form of domestic utensil as was 

 noted when describing the large series of stone mortars. As a class they 

 are uniformly well made, being smooth upon both their exterior and inte- 

 rior surfaces, but while there is a gradual lessening of the thickness of the 

 walls, as they approach the opening or mouth, this is not always uniform. 

 The bottom, however, whether the specimen be globular or with a flat- 

 tened base, is always thicker than the rim at the mouth and the sides for 

 some distance from it. While the greater number of these pots or ollas are 

 globular in form, some examples have been found differing materially in 

 shape. Of this character were two found at La Patera, but not at hand 

 at the time these descriptions were prepared. Dr. Yarrow informs me that 

 these were pyriform in shape, very handsomely finished, and had not been 



