New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-05-12

companied by a number of the looms themselves
with unfinished fabrics on them These are OF
various sizes. some being small enough to manu-
facture belts for the waist \ simple mechdn-
ism of this sort with few inches of woven ma
teriaI-the incomplete work of dying woman
was often ehtombed with her. The looms at
tract almost as much attention from visitors as
the fabrics.
ADORNED WITH PARROT FEATHERS.
The most remarkable ponchos in the collection.
however have their surfaces adorned with coll
cred feathers undoubtedly taken from parrots
One of these garments is chiefly of a bright yell
low. with a broad geom etrical design In black
for border. Another is Of yellow and red AN
attempt has been made to work out the forms
of fishes thereon. Upon careful examination one
can detect traces of ravages of moths on these
feathered ponchOs. Without especially Keen
scrutiny one can also recognize more or less
elaborate darnng on the woven garments one
fine specimen in this class of objects is vicuna
wool poncho. with feather trimming. ard
adorned further with thin silver disks about five
inches across. \ rush work basket containing
spindIes bearing thread of at least twenty diff
fe'ent SHADES tells interesting story of taste
and skill. and industry interrupted by death.
The civilization OF the Kechuas probably had
interesting feature than their method
of keeping accounts and records They had no
written language. They used punches OF
knotted string. called "quipoos." instead
Archaoosists differ in their Interpretation OF
| these curious articles. believing that elab-
crate histories embodied in these knotted
cords. while others are conservative in
their notions the subject 1t to be
granted. however. that each of the various
colors in 'quipoo' had it's OWN significance.
apart from the number and position of the knots.
And it is believed that the keeper OF the 'qui-
poos'' public official Several of these rec
| ords secured by the Museum of Natural
| History by the recent purchase
AS might be expected the Gaffron collection
contains good deal of pottery. and nearly every
specimen is sufficiently typical have a special
| value. The old Peruvians We're unacquainted
| with the potter's wheel. and yet able to
| produce number of very shapely vessels al
| though they closely approached the grotesqUe
at times in their endeavors to initiate birds bats.
| llamas. cats and human beings. They did not
| understand the art of glazing. either. But after
| shaping. painting and firing their vessels they
often rubbed them up until they developed an
! app reciable polish
\ Some of the vessels Just secured were made
for purely utilitarian purposes There are sew
! eral big receptacIes for Kechua beer. for in
stance. ono OF them capable of holding two or
| three barrels at least. The beer OF the old Pc
| ruvians, it may be remarked was not made OF
/ barley or hops; and glucose and arsenic seem to
have been unknown in their day. This beverage
was manufactured from matted corn and Wa
| named "chic2.'
| One of the most elaborate bits of pottery from
| Peru is small representation OF a two story
! tvrret. with staircase on the outside and human
| figures on top Whether the edifce which is
thus copied was meant for military scientific
/ or ceremonial purposes it would be hard 70 say
Another piece shows two men carrying on their
shoulders rod that supports the body of a
| child prepared for burial \ human bust is ia
teresting. not simply a fair sort of sculpture
but as illustrating the way in which ear orDa-
nentS were worn
1t is possible TO discover suggestions OF hUrlOr
or ingenious tricks in some of those fabrications