LITERARY NOTICES. 



121 



of the calumets and bird-shaped pipes are 

 given. The manufacture of ancient pottery 

 is fully considered ; and, in the accompa- 

 nying plates, the prevailing forms of terra- 

 cotta vessels, and the different styles of 

 ornamentation, are beautifully portrayed. 

 The use of pearls as ornaments is made the 

 subject of an independent chapter. It is 

 curious to observe what an important part 

 these little glistening beads played among 

 the ornament-loving peoples of this semi- 

 tropical region. The work concludes with 

 an examination of the primitive employ- 

 ment of shells as ornaments, implements, 

 and as a recognized medium of exchange. 



It will be observed that nearly every 

 chapter in this work forms an independent 

 essay, complete in itself, and elaborate of 

 its kind. The originality of the work, both 

 as regards its general plan and the manner 

 of its execution, will be at once remarked. 

 The freshness and vigor of the illustrations 

 are admirable. The typical objects repre- 

 sented have never been figured before, the 

 originals, or nearly all of them, forming part 

 of the author's collection, and most of them 

 having been obtained by him in situ. Accu- 

 rate pen-drawings were first made under his 

 personal supervision and then these were 

 reproduced by the photo-lithographic pro- 

 cess — all errors of transfer by an engraver 

 being thus avoided. As a necessary conse- 

 quence, these illustrations are unusually cor- 

 rect. They possess an individuality which 

 is very attractive. In grouping the objects 

 selected for illustration, marked taste has 

 been displayed. The plan of the work we 

 regard as natural and judicious. In that 

 portion of North America constituting the 

 field of these archaeological researches we 

 have only a stone age. Here and there cop- 

 per implements and ornaments appear, but 

 that material in its manufacture was re- 

 garded and treated by the primitive work- 

 men not as a metal capable of being mould- 

 ed under the influence of heat, but simply 

 as a malleable stone. Chipped and ground 

 stone implements are found in juxtapo- 

 sition ; and, in their uses, are seemingly of 

 equal antiquity. Any attempt, therefore, in 

 the present state of the inquiry, to pursue 

 the classifications usually adopted by Euro- 

 pean archaeologists appeared both unneces- 

 sary and improper. Realizing this fact, the 



author has grouped and described the an- 

 tiquities of the Southern Indians principally 

 with respect to their uses. Monuments, im- 

 plements, manufactures, and ornaments, are 

 invested with such explanations as are sug- 

 gested by the early narratives, by peculiar 

 characteristics, by intelligent comparison, 

 and by the special circumstances under 

 which they were found. The classification 

 adopted has been, in many instances, gen- 

 eral, and the author has sought to avoid an 

 error into which writers on kindred subjects 

 are prone to fall, namely, a too rigid classi- 

 fication, and an attempt to refer each relic 

 to some definite use. So uncertain is the 

 boundary line which separates well-recog- 

 nized types ; so varied are the modifications 

 of established forms ; so great was the pov- 

 erty of the manufacturers ; and so various 

 the purposes to which the same rude tool 

 may have been applied in conducting early 

 mechanical operations, that the candid ob- 

 server may often confess himself at a loss 

 to determine the positive object for which 

 a given specimen may have been intended. 



In his concluding observations the au- 

 thor says : " Upon a careful comparison of 

 the antiquities of the Southern nations with 

 those of the Northern tribes, we think a 

 greater variety and excellence of manufac- 

 ture, a more diversified expression of fancy 

 in ornamentation, a more careful selection 

 of beautiful material, a superior delicacy 

 and finish in the fabrication of implements, 

 both chipped and polished, a more pro- 

 nounced exhibition of combined labor in 

 the erection of tumuli, a more despotic form 

 of government, a greater permanency of 

 seats, a more liberal expenditure of care and 

 attention in the cultivation of the soil, a 

 more decided system of worship, and a more 

 dignified observance of the significant festi- 

 vals and funeral-customs, may fairly be 

 claimed for the former. "We are acquainted 

 with no region north and east of the Rio 

 Grande in which the earliest exhibitions of 

 skill and taste in the manufacture of imple- 

 ments and ornaments of stone, shell, and 

 bone, are more varied and attractive, where 

 pipe-making claimed such special attention, 

 and where the antique pottery is indicative 

 of such diversity of form and ornamenta- 

 tion, and possessed of such homogeneous- 

 ness of composition and durability." 



