1879.] Native Bitumens and the Pitch Lake of Trinidad. 229 
but always so constricted at the mouth as to admit only disjointed 
bones, deprived of their flesh. In these are encountered human 
remains, unfortunately, however, so reduced to powder that it is 
impossible to determine the physical characters of the race. - 
In conclusion, I can safely affirm, that even to-day it is very 
hard to find on the Amazonas proofs of greater industry than that 
furnished by these mounds, or a higher appreciation of the beau- 
tiful than is manifested by the ornamentation of the pottery of 
the ancient inhabitants of Marajó. 
:0: 
NATIVE BITUMENS AND THE PITCH LAKE OF 
INIDAD. 
BY W. O. CROSBY. 
INERAL pitch and the most of the native bitumens have 
been known from very early times. Among the ancient 
writers we find many statements indicating not only a knowledge 
but a practical use of these substances; and it is’ known that 
asphaltum was appligd to architectural purposes more than four 
thousand years ago. That this substance was held in high esti- 
mation may be inferred from its being ranked by these writers 
among the best building materials of those ages, and from its 
application to structures requiring great solidity and permanence. 
It is mentioned at several places in the Bible under the names 
of slime and pitch: Noah, in building the ark, being commanded 
to “pitch it within and without with pitch,” while we read that the 
bulrush ark of the infant Moses was “ daubed with slime and with 
pitch.” Herodotus says it was used as a cement in building the 
strong walls of Babylon, large quantities being brought down 
to the Euphrates by the small river Is. These fountains of 
Is, celebrated as having attracted the attention of Alexander the 
Great, Trojan and Julian, still continue to pour out inexhaustible 
supplies. The same author describes the mode of obtaining solid 
bitumen and petroleum from a spring near Anderica, on one of 
` the Ionian islands, and of separating them from each other and 
from foreign substances. This spring is flowing there to-day. 
Diodorus Siculus and Josephus noticed the bitumen of the 
Dead sea, its use in medicine and in coating ships; its importa- 
tion into Egypt; and its being there used with aromatic spices 
for the purpose of embalming bodies, which it preserved from 
pu ee, 
