mous
superiority conferred on them by their fire-arms. Even the few
specimens which were actually brought to Charles V seem to have
disappeared, and were probably melted down for use as bullion.35
Of
the silversmiths' methods a little can be learned from a study of Aztec
paintings. Thus we are able to know that they used the crucible, the
muffle and the blowpipe. The statement is made by Torquemada and by
Clavigo that they possessed the now lost art of casting objects half of
gold and half of silver. Some fine examples of Aztec work in gold and
silver are to be seen in the marvelous collections of the Museo
National in Mexico City, and among them are several finger-rings. One
of these comes from Teotihuacan ; its broad hoop is decorated with the
head of one of the Aztec gods, wearing an elaborate and curiously
complicated head-dress. Other gold rings are of a peculiar type, the
inner half of the hoop being only about two-fifths as high as the outer
and very broad half, so that the finger could be closed without
inconvenience.36
So
few finger-rings of the Indian aborigines, who once inhabited the
present territory of the United States, have been brought to light,
that some authorities have been disposed to deny the existence of any
relics of this kind. Among the rare discoveries may be noted a copper
ring found in one of the Indian mounds near Chillicothe, Ross County,
Ohio. This ring has been made by bending a short copper rod until the
ends overlapped and then pounding them as closely together as
possible. It is only large enough for a child's finger, and
35 W. W. Blake, " The Antiquities of Mexico," New York, 1891, p. 74, figure.
36 Ibid., p. 73, figures.
