The terra cotta of the cylinders and tablets is sometimes unglazed; sometimes the natural surface has been covered with a "vitreous silicious glaze or white coating." The color varies, being sometimes a bright polished brown, sometimes a pale yellow, sometimes pink, and sometimes a very dark tint, nearly black.

The most usual color however for cylinders is pale yellow, and for tablets light red, or pink.

There is no doubt that in both these cases the characters were impressed separately by the hand, a small metal style of rod being used for the purpose.
[Illustration: PLATE 82] Terra cotta vessels, glazed and unglazed, were in common use among the Assyrians, for drinking and other domestic purposes.

They comprised vases, lamps, jugs, amphorae, saucers, jars, etc.

[PLATE LXXX., Fig.