| OCR Text |
Show MATERIAL UPON WHICH PICTOGRAPHS ARE MADE. These may be divided into: 1st. Natural objects other than the human person. 2d. The human person. 3d. Artificial objects. NATURAL OBJECTS. Under the first head, the most important division is that of rocks and stones, many examples of which have already been presented. la addition to those respecting stone, Mr. Gilbert furnishes some data relating to the sacred stone kept by the Indians of the village of Oraibi, on the Moki mesas. This stone was seen by Messrs. John W. Young and Andrew S. Gihbon, and the notes were made by Mr. Gilbert from those furnished to him by Mr. Young. Few white men have had access to this sacred record, and but few Indians have enjoyed the privilege. Mr. Gilbert remarks that " the stone was evidently squared by the eye and not by any instrument. The engraving seems to have been done with some rude instrument, but executed with some degree of skill, like an ancient art faded into dim remembrance of the artist or writer of the characters. The stone is a red clouded marble, entirely different from anything found in the region, so I learn by the Indians. The stone is badly worn, and some of the characters are difficult to determine." According to the notes accompanying the rude drawings of this stone, it is an oblong rectangle, measuring 11$ inches long, 7£ inches wide, and 1£ inches thick. On one side there is an interior space, also an oblong rectangle measuring about three- fourths of the size of the whole tablet, between which and the outer margin are six nude human figures resembling one another, one at either end and two on each of the two sides. The interior space may have contained characters, though no traces are now visible. On the other side are drawings of the sun, clouds with rain descending therefrom, lightning, stars, arrows, foot- prints of the bear, and several other undeterminable characters. No history of the origin and import of this tablet has been obtained. Other materials may be mentioned as follows: 58 |
