Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1915-03-26

Original outline Of Filter and Vessel.
numbered some 100000 souls, having
been reduced TO about 10000. Event
ually even thrse last we're killed OF
or worked. 20 death IN tho mines. and
at the present day there are no pure
blooged Indians left on the island.
Il WIS NY good fortune TO discover
on thia last trip a totally unknown fact
about the aborlglucs OF Haitl. namely,
that these people were acquainted
with the principle OF Offering their
drinking water through charcoal. a
discovery all tho more astonishing
when one remembers that filters are
supposed 10 be comparatively modern
Inventions Of the white race. The &C.
companying photographs show quite
clearly what shape this aboriginal filter
had.
a series Of water Jars OF a similar
shape. although Without the filter
disk" enabled me 70 make the deter.
mlnation Of the original outline with
accuracy. One can gain some impress.
sion Of the scarcity Of West Indian
pottery when one considers that the
total number OF uubroken vessels OF
clay from the West Indies IN different
throughout the world is
Aot over nf,y
| was exploring some Of the lime
sione caves that one finds throughout
the Island of HAITI when came upon
ono which had Ia Il a small subterra.
mean freshwater lake. from which the 1
Indians IN the neighborhood evidently
must have taken their drinking water.
This lake was about thirty feet lower
han the mouth OF the cave. and one
descended TO Il By a series OF natural
Iteps. formed by bouldcrs which in the
course OF centuries had fallen from the
oof OF tho cave. Between these boul-
lers and in the water OF tho lake |
ound many broken water vessels OF
-arious sizes and shapes which tho
indians evidently had thrown away.
The recovery OF these iars and frag.
acuts WAS quite an exciting task. II
Iecessitated diving. occasionally into
, feet % water, aud, though ta.s il
ot great depth when one Is diving
nder natural conditions. II was quite
iiieult and rather hazardous in this
ase.
Ia the first place had TO burn a
iagnesium light ia order to locate
'hateyer piece | wanted 70 recover. as
~ acotylene lamp was not strong
nough 20 do this. | then placed a
,ng pole. which | had cut on a treo
ulside tho cave, alongside the vessel
nd then dove down. following the
ole with one hand aud groping for
le vessel with the other.
Returning to the surface was another
robiem. because the root OF the cave
Hnted down 90 the water. aud II ono
anne straight up TO the surface one
ould strike the roof Of the cave and
robably drown To overcome this.
ad rope fastened to my wrist. and
ne OF the men with me would pull
ward him when he saw that | had
,covered the object / had gone after.
ius making me come TO the surface
! the proper SPOT
Among The pieces OF pottery that
'und between the bouidcrs leading
1wn TO the lake was q fragment OF
Ia litter illustrated Alongside The
agment ] found some of the smaller
lreds belonging 90 the bottom part
the Jar and also several large pieces
charcoal. These pieces Of charcoal
'idently were packed IN the top part IA
the vessel and served TO filter tho
ater both when Il was poured into
g lar and when Il Nan notlrnd ont AZ