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[[printed letterhead]]Smithsonian Institution,
Washington D.C.[[/printed letterhead]] 
August 24, [[preprinted]]18[[/preprinted]]81

are old and dirt stained, the painted decorations are mostly Effaced, the [[solid?]] or high relief bosses or head are fallen off.

The large Vase as restored by Mr. Wm Palmer is an imposing looking affair and should be surrendered with reluctance as there are several others still in fragments which would make up quite as well.

For your information I copy from Bates' Naturalist on the Amazon the following paragraph –
"The Ticunas excel most of the other tribes in its manufacture of Pottery. They make broad mouthed Jars for Tucupi Sauce or mandioca beer capable of holding twenty or more gallons ornamenting them outside with crossed diagonal lines of various Colors. These jars with cooking pots smaller jars for holding water, blowgun quivers [[martin?]] bags for small articles, Baskets, skins of animals &c. form the principal part of their furniture. [[underlined]] The dead bodies of their chiefs are interred, the knees doubled up, in large jars under the floor of their huts" [[/underlined]]

I also send a cutting from a recent Pará paper showing that steamboat lines are running to most of the ports on the river which are east of the Peruvian boundary. Any American Consul out there should be able to supply you with objects similar to those of the Bingham Collection.

Very Respectfully Yours E Foreman


























Transcription Notes:
Ticunas and Tucupi are correct/verified