68 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



of the river. The peculiarity is in a sharp projection at the top 

 and toward the handle. About Owego and along the Susque- 

 hanna above that point, iron axes and tomahawks frequently 

 occur. Mr A. F. Barrott has one from Owego of the general 

 trade form, but angular above instead of rounded, which is 

 probably of a later type. Dr A. D. Gould has a pipe tomahawk 

 from Willow Point, and others have been found. 



Among the many tomahawks to be seen at Owego and vicin- 

 ity is one belonging to Mr T. B. Reddish, which came from Mid- 

 dleburg, Schoharie co., where there were Indian forts and vil- 

 lages in the 18th century. This has a broad cutting edge, the 

 implement being narrow at the socket and terminating in the 

 long curved point above. On the expanded surface of the socket 

 are the figures 1711. It is the only one reported with a date, 

 except one from Pompey, dated in 1715. 



Another Owego ax resembles the trade form, but has a neat 



scroll pattern indented in the sides. It is probably more recent 



than the form would indicate, though many pipe tomahawks do 



little more than add the pipe to this early form. In some of 



these, at least, the pipe bowl is formed separately and fixed 



bv a screw. 



Knives 



It is surprising to see what delicate and beautiful work our 

 aborigines did with their simple implements of bone and stone, 

 but they were not slow to see the advantages of metallic tools 

 and gave an appropriate name to their makers. A simple steel 

 knife had a value to them of which we can faintlv conceive. 

 Fancy a white boy in the country without a knife! What won- 

 derful things captives have been able to accomplish with 

 one. It is almost the foundation of all civilized skill. 



One early practice is commonly associated in our minds with 

 the knife in the savage life of this land. It is that of scalping the 

 dead. Fairly understood it has a different character from what 

 many suppose, being the simple attestation or record of the w^ar- 

 rior'S prowess. It w^as not cruel, for no man intended to scalp 

 the living. It w^as not intended as a savage mutilation, but to 



