[28] Hist. de l'Amerique, Sept., vol. III, p. 34. [29] Hist. Virginia. Richmond, 1819, pp. 132-133. [30] History of the American Indians. London, 1775, pp. 422, 423. [31] Narratives of the Career of Hernando de Soto in the Conquest of Florida as told by a Knight of Elvas. Translated by Buckingham Smith. New York, 1866, p. 52. [32] Ibid., p. 63. [33] Narratives of the Career of Hernando de Soto in the Conquest of Florida as told by a Knight of Elvas. Translated by Buckingham Smith. New York, 1866, p. 160-70. [34] Ibid., p. 164. [35] Hist. Louisiana, op. cit., vol. II, p. 23. [36] Memoirs of a captive among the Indians of North America, John D. Hunter. London, 1823, pp. 289-290. [37] Hist. of Carolina, John Lawson. London, 1714; reprint, Raleigh, N. C., 1800, pp. 293-294. [38] Histoire de l'Amerique Septentrionale, Bacqueville de la Potherie, vol. III, pp. 33-34. [39] Ibid., vol. II, pp. 60-61. [40] Ibid., vol. II, p. 80. [41] Histoire de la Louisiane, vol. II, pp. 179-180. [42] The Textile Art, W. H. Holmes, p. 231. [43] Hist. Virginia, John Smith. Richmond, 1819, vol. I, p. 130. [44] Hist. Carolina, John Lawson. Raleigh, 1860, p. 37. [45] Ibid., pp. 311-312. [46] Hist. de la Louisiane, vol. II, pp. 191-192. [47] Memoire sur la Louisiane. Paris, 1753, vol. I, pp. 154-155. [48] Ibid., vol, I, pp. 138-139. [49] Historie de la Louisiane, vol. II, pp. 184-185. [50] Hist. Virginia. Richmond, 1819, vol. I, pp. 129-130. FOSSIL FABRICS. MODES OF PRESERVATION. Contenting myself with the preceding references to the practice of the arts of spinning and weaving in the various regions of the country, I pass on to an examination of the archeologic material which includes traces or remnants of the weaver's work from all sections of the country. As already mentioned, there are a number of ways in which textile articles or data relating to them may be preserved in such manner as to permit examination and study. [Illustration: BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. II MAT OF. SPLIT CANE.] Through charring by the use of fire in burial rites, and by contact with copper or preservative salts in burial caves, numerous pieces of cloth and parts of costumes have come into our possession. One of the most fertile sources of information has but recently been made available. The ancient potter employed woven fabrics in handling, finishing, and decorating pottery. From mounds, graves, and dwelling sites, all over the country, vases and sherds are found covered with impressions of these fabrics, and so well preserved that by taking casts in clay or wax entirely satisfactory restorations are made. Something may be learned from the recovery of implements of spinning and weaving, but up to this time the only relics secured are a few rather rude spindle whorls.