108 COOKING POTS AND FOOD VESSELS. 



and steady. The rim slopes outward slightly, and overlaps the interior 

 surface, and is noticeably sharp and unworn on the edge. There is no 

 trace of ornamentation by incised lines, or other decoration. This speci- 

 men measures, in greatest diameter, 5.2 inches ; height, exteriorly, 2.5 inches; 

 breadth of rim, .35 of an inch. 



Another form of these food receptacles is the oval or boat-shaped, 

 examples of which also occur in the series of stone vessels from California. 

 It is not clear that this shape has any connection with a particular use, and 

 it is not one peculiar to the Pacific coast. A specimen from Massachusetts, 

 figured in Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, No. 287, p. 36, Figure 

 143, is distinctly boat-shaped, with a small projecting handle at each end, 

 and Dr. Eau there refers to others from the Atlantic coast States as being 

 of this general pattern. 



Numerous objects made of steatite have been found in New Jersey 

 and have been examined bj- the writer. The similarity of some of them 

 to implements of this material from California and the adjacent islands 

 has been noticed One marked instance, among several, is the occurrence 

 of a beautifully wrought oval dish, 22 inches in length and 9 in width, which 

 in finish and symmetry quite equals any from the Pacific coast. Frag- 

 ments of several small boat-shaped vessels have also been met with, but the 

 great majority of those from New Jersey, seen by the writer, have been 

 circular in outline and of much ruder finish than the average stone vessels 

 from the Pacific coast. 



A specimen from Santa Barbara, collected by Mr. Bowers (National 

 Museum, 20207), may be considered, perhaps, the typical form of boat-shaped 

 or oval vessels. This handsome specimen of savage art, in finish and design, 

 excels all others in the collection, although there possibly may be no more 

 skill required in shaping an oval than a circular vessel. Be this as it may, 

 the evident intention of the artistic workman has been accomplished, and 

 in every detail the vessel is complete. This specimen is made of steatite, 

 and is prettily veined with black upon gray and brown tints. It is highly 

 polished upon every part, and has the sides of uniform width. The base, 

 which is curved longitudinally, is somewhat flattened transversely, and is 

 of double the thickness of the sides. The ends are curved ; the sides and 



