are always made by the Indians. On one bar of iron there may be many
matrices of different sizes, only one die fitting the smallest
concavity, is required to work the metal in all. In the picture of the
smithy (Pl. XVII, in the right lower corner beside the tin-plate), a
piece of an old horse-shoe may be seen in which a few matrices have been
worked, and, beside it, the die used in connection with the matrices.

[Illustration: PL. XVIII. CRUCIBLE, AND SANDSTONE MOLDS FOR
SHAPING SILVER OBJECTS.]

[Illustration: PL. XVII. WORKSHOP OF NAVAJO SILVERSMITH.]

A little instrument employed in levelling the edges of the metallic
hemispheres, is rude but effective. In one end of a cylinder of wood,
about three or four inches long, is cut a small roundish cavity of such
a size that it will hold the hemisphere tightly, but allow the uneven
edges to project. The hemisphere is placed in this, and then rubbed on a
flat piece of sandstone until the edges are worn level with the base of
the wooden cylinder. The uses of the basin and the wooden stake are
described further on.

Their method of preparing charcoal is much more expeditious than that
usually employed by our charcoal-burners, but more wasteful; wood,
however, need not yet be economized on the juniper-covered _mesas_ of
New Mexico. They build a large fire of dry juniper, and when it has
ceased to flame and is reduced to a mass of glowing coals, they smother
it well with earth and leave it to cool. If the fire is kindled at
sunset, the charcoal is ready for use next morning.

The smith makes his own blow-pipe, out of brass, usually by beating a