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THE MAYA: CRAFTS
315

of cultural contact. It is worthy of remark that the animal forms seem borrowed from the fauna of the Tierra caliente, a fact which goes far to indicate that the potters of Alta Vera Paz borrowed from the Totonac and people of Tabasco and not vice versa.

The most elaborate relief decoration, not made in moulds, seems to have been applied to censers, and the large specimens in cylindrical form which have been found from the Chacula district to that of Coban, are particularly bold and vigorous in treatment (Fig. 71). In the case of vessels of this type much of the ornament appears to have been applied, but fragments of censers of another pattern, with handles, and conforming more closely to the type shown in Pl. IX; p. 82, have been discovered, perhaps more frequently in Vera Paz. These exhibit considerable artistic and technical skill in their construction; the handles are hollow, and usually terminate in a grotesque face, the eyes and mouth of which form apertures connected with the cavity in the handle. The numerous fragments of figurines of rather coarse unburnished clay found throughout British Honduras seem in most cases to have formed part of large vessels, which probably served as censers (Pl. X, 3; p-108). Free use was made of applied details in this district, as can be seen from the illustration on Pl. X, 3; p. 108. From the Pokomam region come peculiar circular dishes, with broad flat rims, the vertical walls of which are studded with conical projections; it is possible that these vessels also, which appear to be characteristic of the district, were censers. In the Uloa valley fragments of vases of a peculiar type have been found, distinguished by lugs in the form of animal heads. Pots of this description are usually further decorated with painted designs of good quality in yellow, orange, brown and black (as Fig. 67; p. 311). Pottery figurines, serving as whistles, with one or more finger-holes, are not uncommon, especially in the Uloa