366 AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL STONE WEAPONS AND IMPLEMENTS, 



The length and shape of the two largest of the tomahawks 

 described under this section impresses me with the idea that they 

 may have been held in the hand when used, without any form of 

 hafting, probably grasped in the palm rather than held by the 

 fingers as represented by the late Rev. P. MacPherson.* In such 

 a case it would be necessary to transfer them to the third section 

 of our arrangement. 



5. Chisel-shaped Type. A form of tomahawk rarely met with. 

 I have lately figured one from Port Stephens,! and have two 

 additional now before me. The first was ploughed up from recent 

 alluvium near Hexham, and presented to the Mining and Geo- 

 logical Museum by Mr. R. W. Thompson, M.L.A. (PI. xxxn., figs. 

 1 and 2). It is composed of chert of a dull drab colour, derived, 

 Prof. T. W. E. David has no doubt, from a chert bed in the 

 Upper Coal Measures at Nobbys, Newcastle. Tl.e implement is 

 oblong, perfectly flat on both sides, slightly increasing in width 

 towards the anterior end, flat along the top and bottom edges, 

 and bevelled on one lateral face only. The bevel is smooth and 

 a little full, but the cutting edge is remarkably true and well 

 rounded. It is slightly flaked at the base. The measurements 

 are : — Length, 8in.; breadth, 2|in.; thickness, lin.; weight, lib. 4oz. 



The physical character of the matrix has in this instance 

 accommodated itself to the preparation of this implement by 

 breaking up into more or less transversely tabular pieces. This 

 the aboriginal owner improved on by grinding the two faces of 

 one of the ends. 



The second tomahawk of this description is rather less in size 

 and thickness than the first. It is probably the one described in 

 the record of the exhibit of Mr. Griffin's tomahawks, " as a flat 

 piece of slate." The composition, as a matter of fact, is greenish- 

 grey altered mudstone or sandy slate. The sides of the tomahawk 

 are smooth and flat, but not polished, square edged, and as might 

 be expected from the comparative tenuity, the amount of the 



* Journ. R. Soc. N.S. Wales for 1885 [1880], xix., 2nd PL, f. 7. 

 t Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, 1890, v. (2), Pt. 2, p. 291, t. 13, f. 11. 



