Illustrated Catalogue of the Collections Obtained from the Indians of New Mexico and Arizona in 187 | Page 5

bins (see Fig. 508), each about 20 inches wide and deep, the whole series ranging from 5 to 10 feet in length, according to the number of bins or divisions. The walls are usually of sandstone. In each compartment one of these metates or grinding stones is firmly set at a proper angle to make it convenient to the kneeling female grinder. In this arrangement of the slabs those of different degrees of texture are so placed as to produce an increased degree of fineness to the meal or flour as it is passed from one to the other. But a small number of these slabs were collected on account of their great weight. Accompanying these metates are long, slim, flat stones, which are rubbed up and down the slabs, thus crushing the grain. These hand-stones are worn longitudinally into various shapes; some have two flat sides, while the third side remains oval. The same variety exists in regard to the texture of these rubbing-stones, as in the concave grinders.
The pueblo of Zu?i, from which the most important portion of the collection was obtained, is situated in New Mexico, near the western border, about two hundred miles southwest from Santa Fé.
At the time of Coronado's visit to this country the pueblo was located at what is now known as "Old Zu?i," on the summit of a high mesa. The modern Zu?i is situated upon a knoll in the valley of the Zu?i River, about two miles from the site of the old town. Certain writers have regarded Zu?i, or rather "Old Zu?i," as one of the "Seven Cities of Cibola." The evidences found at and around both the old and present Zu?i are certainly not sufficient to warrant this view, and further and more careful investigations are necessary.
Zu?i, although lying on the line of travel of military expeditions, emigrant trains, and trade between the Pacific coast and the Rio Grande, the foreigners visiting them have seldom remained long in their village; nor has the advancing wave of Caucasian settlement approached sufficiently near to exert any marked influence on their manners and customs; at least the form and decoration of their pottery bear no marked evidence of the influence of the more highly civilized races.
The collection made here by the expedition was more extensive than that from any other place, and numbers about fifteen hundred objects, of which by far the larger part is composed of earthenware articles. These include large and small water vases, canteens of various sizes and shapes, cooking cups, and pottery baskets used in their dances, paint-pots, ladles, water jugs, eating bowls, spoons, pepper and salt boxes, pitchers, bread-bowls, Navajo water jugs, treasure boxes, water vases, cups, cooking pots, skillets, ancient pottery, animals, and grotesque images. It belongs mostly to the variety of cream-white pottery, decorated in black and brown colors; a portion is red ware, with color decorations in black. There are also several pieces without ornamentation, and one or two pieces of black ware, but the latter were most probably obtained from other tribes, and possibly the same is true in reference to a few pieces of other kinds which present unusual figures or forms.
A slight glance at the figures depicted on the tinajas, or water vases, will suffice to show any one who has examined the older pottery of this region, specimens and fragments of which are found among the ruins, that a marked change has taken place in their ideas of beauty. Although the rigid, angular, zigzag, and geometric figures are yet found in their decorations, they have largely given way to carved lines, rounded figures, and attempts to represent natural objects.
A few apparently conventional figures are still generally retained, as around the outside of the necks of the vases and on the outer surface of the bowls, probably suggested originally by the rigid outlines of their arid country, and in fact by their buildings. The figure of the elk or deer is a very marked feature in the ornamentation of their white ware, and is often found under an arch. Another very common figure is that of a grotesquely-shaped bird, found also on the necks of water vases and the outer surface of bowls.
ARTICLES OF CLAY.
Tinajas, or water vases, are called in the Zu?i tongue tk[-a]h-wi-n[-a]-k[-a]-t[-e]hl-le. They are usually from 8 to 12 inches in height, and from 12 to 15 in diameter. A smaller size of the same form of vessels, which are from 5 to 7 inches in height and from 8 to 10 in diameter, are called det-ts[-a]n-n[-a]. They are of three colors, cream white, polished red, and black: there are in the collection comparatively few of the second, and but one of the last variety. The decorations are chiefly in black and brown, but four or five pieces