ARCHAEOLOGICAL FRAUDS. 309 



remark, however, is exclusive of all objects of hematite. So many- 

 hundreds of these are manufactured in Cincinnati and other cities, that 

 no object of this material should be admitted into a museum or pri- 

 vate cabinet unless its history rendered fraud absolutely impossible. 

 Attempts at making grooved axes have been brought to my notice, 

 but they were so rudely shaped, and so new in appearance, that de- 

 ception was impossible. The flat pebbles, with two or four notches, 

 known as " net-sinkers," are readily made, but are so abundant that to 

 manufacture them, instead of looking for those made by the Indians, 

 has not yet become profitable. 



The Indians were quick to perceive how readily thin, flat sandstone 

 pebbles could be perforated, and so become available as ornaments. 

 Such objects I have gathered by the score from graves and village 

 sites ; and, as a result of calling the attention of collectors to these 

 perforated disks, I find that they are now made in large numbers ; 

 being perforated with flint drills, and the " new " surfaces carefully 

 polished with leather and emory. This gives the appearance of age, 

 and such specimens are readily palmed off upon the unwary. Indeed, 

 detection of the fraud is well-nigh impracticable. A rainy Saturday 

 means mischief, so far as country school-boys are concerned ; for I 

 find that they often congregate in some quiet corner to drill pebbles 

 and repoint arrow-heads ; and then, lying in wait for the professor or 

 the " 'Gasy (Agassiz) Club " boys, from town, unload upon them the 

 remarkable "finds" (?) made since their last vist. I do not wish to 

 discourage archaeological research, but simply to warn enthusiastic 

 students against dangers to which they are exposed ; for I speak from 

 sad experience. 



Of frauds in mound pottery and striped slate, I need not here make 

 other mention than to caution the purchaser of specimens ; for there 

 are abundant counterfeits offered by dealers in curiosities. I do not 

 mean to imply that these dealers are acquainted with the true history 

 of the objects exposed for sale, for they, like the archaeologists, are 

 frequently imposed upon. 



Unexaggerated as are the dangers of imposition such as I have 

 pointed out, they are really insignificant as compared with that attach- 

 ing to the purchase of steatite implements. It is well known that the 

 Indians made constant use of this mineral for the manufacture of 

 cooking-vessels, for smoking-pipes, and, to a limited extent, for small 

 ornaments ; but probably never for weapons. As the mineral is so 

 readily worked, the cunning Flint Jacks have long been in the nefarious 

 business of imitating pots, pipes, and trinkets, without number. 



Philadelphia has the honor (?) of being the headquarters of steatite 

 frauds ; and it is not long since that one hundred beautiful objects, 

 made by one man, were added to an extensive collection, at a cost of 

 five hundred dollars. Had not the discovery of their origin been 

 made in time, it would have resulted in American archaeologists credit- 



