Pre-Colombian Jamaica: Caribbean Archeology and Ethnohistory

206 / Appendix D.
While this account was being prepared, Mr. Maxwell Hall sent information
relating to numerous carvings of human faces occurring in a cave on his property
Kempshot, near Montego Bay.
Pottery
Many examples of aboriginal pottery, both perfect and in fragments, have been
collected from the various caves and kitchen- middens. In shape, ornamentation,
and handles, it is throughout of a fairly uniform, simple character.
Implements
Several hundred specimens of stone implements of various forms— celts, chisels,
axes, mealing- stones— have been gathered together. Flaked flints and shell
implements have been found, mostly from the shell- heaps.
Calcedony beads, perforated ornamental shells, and perforated stones are
also described.
Images
The Hon. D. Campbell lent to the Exhibition two perfect stone images, probably
examples of the idols or Zemes the Indians are stated by Columbus and
other writers to have worshipped. Two other imperfect marble images, obtained
from the Long Mountain shell- heaps, are perforated behind for sus-[3]pension,
and are, no doubt, representatives of the amulets the Indians are known
to have worn.
Where material and information were accessible, comparison has been made
of the local objects with those of the other West Indian Islands, or with the continent
of America; especially amongst the latter, with those of the Indians, both
ancient and modern, of British Guiana, to whom the former inhabitants of Jamaica,
and many of the other islands, are supposed by some authors to be most
closely related; also, where possible, confirmatory evidence of the customs and
conditions of the aborigines has been adduced from the writings of the Spanish
historians of the time of Columbus.
My thanks are due to the very numerous contributors of specimens, materials,
and information from all parts of the island. How deep is the necessity
for this obligation can only be realized by a perusal of the following pages.
Dr. J. W. Plaxton and Dr. G. C. Henderson have assisted greatly by their helpful
criticisms, and Mr. H. Vendryes by his knowledge of Jamaican Mollusca.