MI'ri'ALLIC I.MI'IJO.MICN'1'S OF NKW VOKK INKIANS 65 



AA'Iion wo considci' llic f]^roat (junntilics of axes llinj flic 

 P^njilisli Mild Diilcli both sold and .t;nv(' lo tlic Irfxpiois, and (he 

 universal prevalence in early years of llie foiiii known as the 

 French trade ax, w<' are led lo believe thai all were nej Frencli, 

 bnf dial ibis w;is the coinnion l<]nro])ean form two or three 

 centuries aj^o, as it is in (Jerniany yel. A larj^e proportion, at 

 least, S(M^in to have Ixm'u made at T^trecht. Tn any case niost 

 of the iron axes found on New York Indian sites passed lhrou«,^li 

 (he hands of its colonists. 



Fip:. 8 is much reduced and has one uniqiK' feature. While 

 liaving nearly the common outline, a sharp spike rises from the 

 upper edge, 1^ inches high, giving a height of r>| inches to this 

 corroded implement. It was found at Rome N. Y. and may be 

 dated about the middle of the 18th centurv. 



Fig. 99 is a large and typical trade ax from Pompey, unusually 

 wide for its length. It has the frequent three crosses and is very 

 heavy. The figure is much reduced, the implement being 8-j 

 inches long. This ax is in the Skaneateles library. Fig. 98 is a 

 very large and peculiar ax, also much reduced, the actual length 

 being lOf inches. The lateral edges of the blade are now parallel, 

 but the posterior may have been cut or ground down. The three 

 crosses give weight to this supposition. In its present condition 

 it is unique. It is in the Cazenovia library and was found at 

 Nelson Flats, Madison co. as well as the following two. 



Fig. 167 is the reduced form of a typical trade ax, with one 

 nni(pie feature. The tAVO circles each inclose eight lines radiating 

 from the center, instead of the cross. It is 7{ inches long with a 

 blade nearly 4 inches wide. Fig. 168 is similar but larger, the 

 extreme length being 8| inches and the greatest width 4 inches. 

 The three circles on each side each inclose a double cross. P.oth 

 these show one characteristic feature of these early axes, the 

 angular indentation of the outline below the socket. Quite a 

 number have been found in the town of Nelson. 



Fig. 90 is a curious ax in the Bigelow collection, which was 

 found at Jack Reef on the Seneca river. It shows signs .of 

 long use, and was evidently once longer, but its most singular 

 feature is a large rectangular perforation through the lower 



