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.