, 1888-01-31
CLIFF JEWELLERS OF ARIZONA.
4 Fine Collection of Relics, showing
Their Life aud Habits.

\ Fine Collection of Relics, Showing
Their Life and Habits.
Professor Albert s. Bickmorc, the su,
perintendent of the American Museum
of Natural History, at Seventy-eighth
street and Eighth avenue, the other after
noon showed n reporter an exceedingly
interesting collection which was received
at the museum within n few days. It is
an assortment of over 2,2O0 distinct spCci-
mems illustrating the mode of life .nnd Of
delth) of the ancient Pueblo Indians.
The collection vas made and donated to
the museum by DIR. Edgar a. Melrus,
assistant surgeon in the United States
army, now stationed mt Fort Verde. A.
T. Here he has been for nearly three
years, and has occupied himself with
searching for and exploring the wonder
full cliff dwellings and other ancient re-
mains 50 common in that region. The
collection which he has sent on TO the
museum is exceedingly fine and interest
ing. 1t embraces articles illustrating the
art of war rs carried on by these aborigi-
nal inhabitants of America, their various
domestic manufactures. their manner of
hunting and the food upon which they
lived.
From the grca. depth at which the
articles We're found, the immense lapse
of time since these villages were in active
operation and teeming with life. may be
estimated. Some of the articles were
found Mt depths ranging from two to six
feet; in the caves they were covered with
dust and guano formed by the millions of
bats which inhabit these drcary rccesscs.
while out in the open plain they were
covered with volcanic dust and scoria
washed down from the ne~ighboring
heights. The caves are situated far up
sometimes hundreds of feet on the sides
of the canyons in which all the streams Of
that region are found. They are prob
ably artificial and We're made by the
ancient inhabitants as projections against
Wild beasts and their human enemies.
Among the most interesting specimens
IN the collection just received are seven
large lava or sandstone mortars, called
metates by the Indians of the present
day. They were md are still used by
the modern MeXicans for grinding corn
(maizc(, preparatory TO making il into
cakes. The method of grinding was
exactly similar to that of the common
mortar and pestlc. But the chief I'M
terest attaching to them is their great
size, several being and n half or two
feet in length and n foot in thickness;
also the unusual depth to which they
have been followed or scooped out. This
depth shows the unrcmitting toll, energy
and patience of this primitive race, who,
with but another stone as a tool, gradu-
ally followed out, by hours and days Of
labor, n block of stone of the hardest
kind TO a depth of several inches. Each
mortar is accompanied by several pestles,
al. l,,l.. &c I.,-, .,,..l.ta., .- 1900.
of greensboro, n variety of lava.
Another exceedingly interesting set of
specimens are the axes, of which there is
a large number OF examples. Among
them are n few, which Professor Bick-
more states he considers to he probably
unique. These are stone battle axes,
with a pointed end like an awl, instead
Of the usual flat edge. In the collection
is an assortment of cloth fabrics, and
among them is a needle, found in n pi"cn
Of the cloth. This, unlike our modern
needles, although yet very sharp, is Of
wood, being nothing more or less thar
the sharp, needle like leaf of n member
Of the pine family of trees. The thread
is still in position just as it was left by
some aboriginal lady Of fashion, long
since dead and gone.
Besides these articles already noticed,
the collection includes pieces Of wicker
n basket work, almost rs it came from
the hand Of the maker, specimens Of corn
grains and cobs, ends, bone avis and pins,
STONE arrow and spear points, fashioned
10th from splinters of ohsidian volcanic
glass; and from ChalCcdony hammers,
arrow s~harpcners, stone knives and
many other articles made both
from stone and bone, whose
uses are sometimes not wholly
clear ever to the skilled arChwologist.
Among the various tools there Is a small,
round piece of wood, which Professor
Biclmore explained was evidently in
tended to produce fire. A soft, pithy
stick, being inserted in u hole in the first
piece Of wood and quickly twirled back
ward and forward, the rapid motion soon
sets it aiirc.
Besides the corn and seeds the food of
the ancient Pueblos is also shown by n
large assortment of bones-some whole,
some fractured, and some mere splinters.
When found they were in sucha position
and condition as to show that they were
the remains of feasts. Other bones, such
rs those of man, have also sometimes
become mixed with.them. Some of the
animals whose bones can be recognized
are the elk, mule deer, antelope, beaver,
spcrmophile and gopher doth species of
ratl, turtle, snake, turkey, cottontail and
jlcl, rabbit, mouse, musquash, and many
othCrs.-New York Evening sun.