to civilization. At this point he ceases to be a
savage, and enters the confines of Barbarism.<97> The skill shown in
using this knowledge is one of the many things we have to take into
consideration in determining the rank of a people in the scale of
enlightenment. The Mound Builders were evidently quite well along in the
potter's art; and as they have left behind them many examples of their
work, we must try and acquaint ourselves with some of the more important
varieties.

Illustration of a Group of Clay Vessels.----------------

This illustration is of a group of clay vessels of the bowl pattern,
found in mounds in different parts of the Mississippi Valley. In one of
these we see a good example of the style of ornamentation by means of
incised lines. In the duck-headed vessel we have a representation of a
class of vessels common in Missouri and Tennessee. Not unfrequently
one or both of the handles of vessels of this class is in the form of
a human head instead of that of an animal. Our next illustrations
represent a group of such specimens. Judging from the skill with which
they imitated animals, it is not unreasonable to believe that in these
faces we have rude likenesses of the people who made them.

Illustration of Bowls with Human Faces.------------

The two bottle-shaped vessels here figured, are from mounds in
Louisiana. As will be noticed, the ornamentation is quite artistic.
The ware is of a good quality, and they are good examples of the Mound
Builders' art. The form with the long neck is perhaps a water-cooler.
When filled with water, and allowed to stand, some of the water passes
through the pores, and evaporating, keeps the surface of the vessel
cool.

Illustration of Bottle-shaped Vessels. (Smith. Inst.)----

They also made some vessels of large size to serve for cooking purposes.
On some of the larger vessels the imprint of woven weeds and willows of
a basket on the outer surface leads to the belief that such vessels were
formed or moulded within baskets. Many large pots and urns, however,
were made without this aid. Some large urns were used for burial
purposes. In a Michigan mound an urn about three feet in height had been
so used. It was standing upright, and into it the whole skeleton of a
man had been compressed, and a closely-fitting lid covered the top.<98>
Very large, shallow vessels were used to manufacture salt--that is, they
were filled from some salt-spring, and then the