ask... Pueblo Pottery. [ June, 
is rare in Pueblo pottery, and has, without doubt, been recently 
introduced by traders. Specimens from Zia are generally of 
ruder workmanship, but present the same characteristics as those 
from the other towns. A large basin from Cochite, twenty inches 
in diameter, used for mixing bread in, is the finest example of 
Pueblo ware I have ever seen; the exterior surface is decorated 
with geometrical designs, while the interior is elaborately and 
profusely ornamented with animal figures representing elk, deer 
and wild turkeys, in black. The clay which composes the speci- 
men is of a very fine, compact texture, and is. covered with a lus- 
ter closely resembling that seen upon many of the ancient Grécian 
urns, 
As has been previously stated, vessels are now rarely made in 
imitation of the human form, and ancient pieces of this shape 
have never been found. Figure 3 illustrates a modern water bottle, 
six and a quarter inches in height, from Laguna. It represents a 
woman carrying an infant. Attached to her left side is a basket or 
bag in which her hand is thrust. The mouth of the vessel is in 
the back of the head. It would be tedious to extend our descrip- 
tions of modern forms. Suffice it to say that vessels have been 
molded into every shape that fancy could suggest or ingenuity 
devise. For the greater part the women are the potters, and their 
delicacy of touch and keen perception of beauty, enable them to 
produce many things which are worthy of a place with other 
ornaments in our cultivated homes. . 
The clay used in the manufacture of the Laguna pottery is of 
a dark-slate color, and exceedingly compact, oftentimes approach- 
ing soft rock in texture. It occurs in seams or veins in the mes 
walls. The Indians in order to procure a good quality usually 
dig into the rock for some distance. There are many grades © 
this clay, and a variety of colors, the best sorts naturally pro 
ducing the finer wares. It is prepared for use by first soaking 
water for two or three days, when it becomes plastic and easily 
worked. It is then kneaded with the hands and all the hard 
lumps extracted, after which it is worked with the feet on a large 
flat stone, until it resembles a mass of dark colored wax. 
potsherds are also ground up and mixed with the clay in ma 
new vessels, From this paste vessels of various forms are mo 
and set aside to dry. 
The decoration consists of black, brown, red or buff 
king 
Jded 
designs 
