Pre-Colombian Jamaica: Caribbean Archeology and Ethnohistory

Aboriginal Indian Remains in Jamaica by J. E. Duerden / 275
Calcedony Beads
In the Museum collections is a string of twenty flattened calcedony beads or
discs, obtained by the Hon. Wm. Fawcett and Mr. De la Haye from a deposit
of aboriginal remains at Vere, Clarendon (see page 15). The beads were discovered
in 1880, while holes were being dug in a cane piece. Lady Blake also possesses
another series obtained in Jamaica, and Mr. De la Haye states that there
were in the same place numerous pieces of partially worked stone and other incomplete
beads. The two groups are figured in the Journal of the Institute, August,
1894, and one series is again shown on Plate VI. Calcedony, arranged in
layers, occurs naturally in various places in the Tertiary limestone of the island.
[Followed by unnumbered Plate V] [47]The beads differ in length, some being
only mere discs 1/6 of an inch in thickness, while the longest are 1/2 an inch.
They vary in diameter from 3/8 to 5/8 of an inch, and are beautifully rounded
and polished. The drilling, except in the thinnest, has been effected from both
flattened ends, meeting near the middle, often at different inclinations. The
size of the holes is very variable. Considering the hardness of the material, and
the well finished shape and surface, the perforations must have required a large
amount of time and expenditure of energy to produce, remembering the rude
implements employed in the execution.
In the “Latimer Collection” from Porto Rico, Prof. Mason describes (p. 378)
“A string of seventy small chalcedony beads, about the size of peas. They are
quite perfectly rounded and perforated— some of them in two directions. This
is the most remarkable sample of aboriginal stone polishing and drilling that
has ever come under the observation of the writer. It is exceedingly doubtful
whether another collection of so many witnesses of savage patience and skill
has been found anywhere in one specimen.”
He further reminds one of the “eight hundred beads of a certain stone called
ciba, given by Guacanagari to Columbus on his second voyage,” which are
mentioned by Herrera, and on which the Indians set great value. Numerous
other references occur, in the contemporaneous Spanish writers, to the dress
and ornaments worn by the natives of Jamaica, and of the West Indies generally,
at the time of their discovery by Columbus. Several are given of the use of
strings of variously coloured beads.
In the account by Bernaldez of the Cacique and his party who visited Columbus
when he was obliged to shelter in Old Harbour Bay, on his second visit
to Jamaica, in July, 1494, we have a description of the full regalia of the Cacique,
and of the dresses of his wife and daughters.
The account, translated by Irving (Life of Columbus, ‘88 Ed., p. 276) is as
follows (italics added):
“Around his head was a band of small stones of various colours, but principally