Holmes believes almost all these metal objects were cast in moulds, as noted, but he mentions other processes by which they may have been made. They have the appearance of having been modelled in some plastic material, and then coated with clay, when by the action of heat the wax runs away, leaving the hollow clay as a mould to receive the metal. This is the _cire perdue_ process. Small figures of resin, in all respects modelled like those found in metal, have been discovered in the graves. This seems to add to the probability of a Chiriqui acquaintance with the _cire perdue_ process. Another method suggested is that the various metallic parts of a figure were enclosed in a clay matrix and then heated till the parts melted and joined, but this appears to be too uncertain and difficult to have warranted its practice. Still another method advanced is the coating of a wax figure with sheet gold and melting the wax, when a hollow gold figure would be the result. This is possible but not probable. Yet one more suggestion is that the gold was reduced to an amalgam with mercury, and thus modelled, when the mercury being driven off by heat the gold figure would remain. One difficulty with this theory seems to be that there is no evidence that the Chiriquians knew mercury. As many of the objects are washed or plated with pure gold, it would seem that the pure gold was the most difficult to obtain, and that, as before stated, the gold-copper alloy was a natural one. There is neither engraving nor carving on these objects; and the objects themselves are the same crude productions that are indicative of pure Amerind art everywhere on the continent. Some are more crude than others, but all Amerind sculpture, modelling, and carving are essentially rude and primitive. In the form and artistic execution of the Chiriqui objects of gold and copper we may be positive that there is no European influence, whatever there may be in the method of production. It is probable that the objects are entirely native, and they offer another lesson that the tribes of North America were everywhere working and inventing, and gradually conquering the secrets of nature just as our ancestors did and just as we are still doing to-day; some doing more, others less; some being quick, and others clumsy, ignorant, and dull. The bells are usually of bronze, having the shape of our common sleigh-bell, and are frequently gold-plated. The bells found in Arizona are of this description but not plated. [Illustration: TRIPLE BELL OR RATTLE OF GOLD FROM NEAR PANAMA] [Illustration: BRONZE MEXICAN BELL]