Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-02

waived their objections and when they
learned that the excavations were made in
order to throw light on the history OF
their race they entered into the spirit OF
the affair, right heartily.
Character of the Collection.
In all. upward Of $500 pieces of pottery
were recovered. With few exceptions they
are unbrcken. They include such things as
Jars. bowls clippers and cups. in all shapes
and sizes. Many Of them are really beauti-
full, and when it Is remembered that they
were made without the assistance of any
sort Of potter's wheel. the work Is truly
remarkable. AS a rule, they are painted
with conventional figures. and the decora-
ton Is invariably chaste and effective In
the matter of decoration the prehistoric
Mokis were far ahead of their descendants
of today, and in point of beauty this col
lection surpasses that of modern Moki pot
terry in the museum. When the chief pot
ter of Tusayan heard of the excavation at
HomOlobi he made a visit to the place in
order to study the work of his predeces-
sors. and he owned up to the deterioration
in art which time has brought to his peo-
pie.
Among the pieces of pottery found were
a number that are quite unlike any that
have ever been discovered in any of the
other pueblos. One piece is particularly
interesting. for 1t shows evidences of
metallic glaze, something the Pueblo In
dams were not supposed to know anything
about.
Water was something that the Mokis
never had in sufficient quantities. and in
their religious ceremonies a special prayer
was always sent up that they might have
an abundance So it came about that in
their art they were fond of reproducing ami
mails and plants that are more or less
closely identified with rain or flowing
streams. The frog was one of their favor
lite subjects. They probably wanted to
make the rain feel at home and very well
come when it came.
The Gem of the Collection.
Among the articles of personal adornment
there is one piece that DIR. Fewkes regards
as quite the gem of the collection. 1t is
a gorget or locket that was probably worn
by big chief of the tribe. 1t Is fashioned
in the form of frog. and it certainly COM
pares favorably with the general run of
Italian mosaics. The back is made of hun
dredS of little pieces of turquoise imbedded
in pinon gum. The bits of turquoise aver
age about one-twentieth of an inch square,
and each is made with beveled edges,
that they all fit with mathematical pre-
ctSon on the curved surface. The MokiS
had no metal tools. and as each tiny piece
had to be ground down by holding and
rubbing it against stone surface, some
idea may be had Of the amount of time and
labor that was expended on that one trim
ket. There are a number of finger rings,
made from bone, and armlets and brace
lets, made from carved shells, that show
the possession of great deal of skill
the part Of the maker. There is but
metal ornament in the whole lot This is
a copper bell, with a pebble inside in gen
eral shape not at all unlike the modern
sleigh bell.
DR.. Fewkes brought back a large number
of skulls and bones, which show that the
prehistoric Mokis SO far from being giants,
as they are often thought of, were. in
reality. rather understood lot. These will
all be carefully measured and studied for
purposes of comparison in order to still
further advance modern knowledge of this
curious and Interesting race.