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March 19, 1924.

Mr. Harry E. Hurst, 1st Sgt., U.S.M.C.
Santiago, Dominican Republic, West Indies.
(c/o Postmaster, New York City)

Dear Mr. Hurst:-

The pottery heads came yesterday - a fine lot; some of them are remarkable. A number of the larger ones were broken in transit,however - the answer is - more paper on the big ones.

I almost hate to see such heads come in, for I realize that to get them, some old refuse heap has been dug out, and that the information it might have yielded to an experienced eye has been lost. Another thing occurs to me in this connection - when digging of this kind is done, great care should be taken to save all the pieces of any vessel that may be found lying near together. In Eastern Cuba besides the village-site I happened to be digging personally at any one time, I had natives dig others in the neighborhood, under my supervision, paying them according to what they found. They made most of their money by finding all or nearly all the pieces of broken pots. All the fragments of a cazuela including its two heads are worth so much more than the two heads alone, that they soon learned to be careful. The two heads alone might net them only twenty cents; all or most of the pieces of the vessel, two or three dollars. 

As to the skulls, they are of interest, of course, but their money value is not great. They need very careful packing too. They should be taken out and packed by an expert to preserve their full scientific value. 

Mr. Heye replied favorably by cable, so I am sending enclosed seventy dollars in ten dollar bills to pay for the shipment received, March 5th, of which I sent you a list, plus $10.00 for the first effigy pestle received March 11th.

Will send the money for the shipment received March 15th, and the pottery heads, etc., received the 18th, in another letter.

Wishing you continued good luck, I remain
Sincerely yours,

MRH-m
encl.