758 Catlinite. [July, 
According to the report of Long’s expedition to the Rocky 
mountains, published in Philadelphia in 1823, the old Philadel 
phia Museum contained at that time “ many Indian pipes of that 
indurated clay found only (as far as hitherto known) on the Pipe 
stone branch of the Little Sioux river of the Missouri; one of 
these, however, was found on the banks of the Rio de la Plata, in 
South America ; several were found in the territory now called 
New England, and in the north-eastern part of the continent” 
Unfortunately the specimen alluded to as having been found ia 
South America, is probably lost, as the collection has long sincè 
been dispersed. It is, therefore, impossible, at this late day, to 
substantiate the statement quoted above. 
Through the kindness of Professor W. H. Pratt, of Iowa, I have 
been enabled to procure photographs, sketches and accurate de- | 
scriptions of a most interesting series of catlinite pipes belong- i 
ing to the museum of the Davenport Academy of Sciences, l 
A careful study of this collection reveals two important facts: l 
First, that catlinite is not always distinguished by a red color, but 
that varieties sometimes occur of brown, slaty or greenish hues; g 
second, that the forms of some of the older pipes, when consti 
ered in connection with the circumstances of their discover) 
would indicate a much longer acquaintance with this material, 0° 
the part of the North American tribes, than has hitherto p 
supposed probable. The set of modern Indian pipes in this < 
lection comprises specimens of a bright red color, others ae 
dark red or brown, and several of an ash or darker slate Be 
sometimes approaching a greenish tinge. As the red color | 
generally been considered one of the distinguishing characte 
of catlinite, some doubt might naturally be entertained as em 
identity of the material of the latter, were it not for the BATE 
there are examples in the collection which are partially re 
partially ash colored, and which are undoubtedly true «~ i 
Such specimens combine in one piece the characteristics of se" 4 
varieties of the stone, and present a mottled or variegate? ai i 
ance, “In 1838,” remarks my informant, Mr. Pratt, : Litile o 
made a pipe while stopping a day or two at the hou 
Pope, then living near Fort Snelling, and presented it tothe e 
It is of the dark ash color, and closely resembles some J 
specimens in color and texture, but somewhat darker rapes : 
them, and not in the least red. It is of the common Mom 
