AnORIGIXAL WORKSHOPS ETHKRID(;E AX1> WIIITKLFJiflK. 



•239 



size the instruments vary greatly, the largest obtained is ahout 

 50 ni.m. in length, 10 m.m. in breadth, and 7 or 8 ai.ni. in thick- 

 ness ; the smallef't measures 10 m.m. in length, ■') m.m. in In-caiitli, 

 and 2 to 4 m.m. at the delicately carved back. 



The lithological character of the stone used in 

 making these implements is extremely variable, 

 viz., quartzite, fossil wood, white chert, black 

 flint, red and yellow jaspei-, and other siliceous 

 materials, most of which were from places remote 

 from the metropolitan district ; shell was oc- 

 casionally employed (tig. 40). To what use these 

 knives were put, we can only surmise. It seems 

 probable that the Australian Aborigines ha^■e 

 ceased to manufacture this form of lancet at the 

 present day — at least from stone. Neither Prof. 

 W. B Spencer or Dr. W. E. Rotli had any know- 

 ledge of such implements from any part of 

 Austiulia 



Fii;. 40. 



The liteiature relating to these knives is scanty, and so far only 

 one authority has been found who gives a definite statement as to 

 their use. all the rest of the opinions, including those herein ex- 

 pressed, being purely speculative. 



Under the title of " Minute 8tone Tmplemeiits from India." * 

 l)r. Thomas Wilson figui'es and describes knives wliich are iden- 

 tical in every particular with those found so abundantly on the 

 sand-dunes along our coast. It is also remarkable that the im 

 plements are similar in lithological characters : they were " found 

 in the caves and rock-shelters amongst the Vindhj'a Hills, in 

 places difficult of access and unknown to the ordinary traveller." 

 The author states that " the similarity of form and mode of manu- 

 facture .... is evidence showing the same intention on 

 the part of the makers, although we are quite in the dark as what 



that intention was It is not easy to determine the 



purpose of these small imjilemeiits, especially the crescent, trape 

 zoid and scalene triangular, which have neither known pi'ototype 

 or antitj'pe ; some of the smaller and straighter objects might 

 ha\'e served as needles or perforators. .'V possible use akin to that 



■* Wilson — .Inn. Report Regents Siiiithsoniaii Inst. (U. S. Xat. Miis. 

 Rei)ort) for IS92 (1893), j). 4.").-j, ]A. v'n. 



