546 VARIETIES OF IMPLEMENTS. 







arrows the shaft tapered to the end, so that even when it was 

 withdrawn the head of the arrow remained in the wound. 

 Again, the different forms of harpoons are illustrated by the 

 barbed and unbarbed lances of the Esquimaux (ante, p. 510). 

 Unfortunately, however, we have but few details of this kind ; 

 travellers have generally thought it unnecessary to observe 

 or record these apparently unimportant details ; and that our 

 knowledge of flint implements is most rudimentary, is well 

 shown by the discussion between Professors Steenstrup and 

 Worsaae, whether the so-called " axes" of the shell-mounds 

 were really axes, or whether they were not rather used in 

 fishing. 



We may hope, however, that in future those who have the 

 opportunity of observing stone implements among modern 

 savages will enve us more detailed information both as to the 



O o 



exact manner in which they are used, and also about the way 

 in which they are made ; that they will collect not only the 

 well-made weapons, but also, and even more carefully, the 

 humble implements of every-day life. 



Some archseologists have argued that the shell -mound 

 builders of Denmark must have possessed more formidable 

 weapons than any that have yet been found, because it was 

 considered impossible that they could have killed large game, 

 as, for instance, the bull and seal, with the simple weapons 

 of bone and stone which alone have hitherto been discovered. 

 Professor Worsaae* even goes so far as to say: "Against 

 birds and other small creatures these stone arrows might 

 prove effectual, but against larger animals, such as the aurochs, 

 the elk, the reindeer, the stag, and the wild boar, they were 

 evidently insufficient ; particularly since these animals often 

 become furious as soon as they are struck." I can, however, 

 by no means agree with Professor Worsaae in this supposi- 

 tion ; we know, on the contrary, that modern savages are able 



* Pago 18. 



