The U.S. Naval Astronomical Expedition to the Southern Hemisphere, During the Years 1849-'50-'51-'52 Volume 2 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1855 Excerpt: ... the sides a man and woman in high relief in a sitting posture. At their feet the liquid contents were drawn out at two orifices, to which plugs or faucets were adapted. On each side a couple of tigers are sculptured, whose heads and protruded tongues stand out full an inch--their bodies being in low relief. For the sake of the head-dresses, the human figures--supposed to represent an Inca and his wife--are enlarged and figured separately at L M. The object of this vessel is not obvious, except that it was for mixing liquids, but whether for innocent, or deceptive purposes does not appear. A plan of it is below at K', showing channels of communication between the partitions at the bottom and along the sides. These do not exceed one fourth of an inch bore. They have been cut too large in the engraving. From a slight examination it will be perceived that the contents of cells 1, 6, 8, 3, were discharged at one orifice, while those of 2, 5, 4, 7, ran out at the other. The material of this vessel is of a uniform grayish-black color, and not very hard--almost as easily cut as soapstone. The corner and two side channels of communication are formed in plaster or cement, with a species of covered-way on those parts of the bottom. Works in Bronze. Next in interest to a personal interview with half a dozen ancient Peruvian founders--could they be called up from the dead to hold communion with us--would be a daguerreotype picture of them in the midst of their implements and processes; and next to that are opportunities of examining articles produced by them, with more or less of the tools they employed. The information thus obtained is reliable, as far as it goes; and as metallic antiques accumulate, so will our knowledge of their authors, until we shall be in possess...