BULLETIN 



ESSEX IITSTITTJTE. 



Vol. L Salem, Mass., February, 1869. No. 2. 



One Dollar a Year in Advance. 10 Cents a Single Copy. 



INDIAN RELICS. 



Mr. F. W. Putnam exhibited two rare spedmens* of 

 Indian carving, both wrought from steatite. The largest 

 is about two inches, and the smaller about three-fourths 

 of an inch in length. One was found in an excavation 

 made about twenty years ago, during the grading of 

 the N. R. R. of N. H., in North Boscawen, Merrimack 

 County, on territory occupied by the Pentacooks. It was 

 presented to the Museum of the Peabody Academy of 

 Science, by Mr. G. E. Emery of Lynn. The other was 

 found in Cayuga and has long been in the possession of 

 the Institute, and was presented by Mr. C. L. Allen. It 

 is a simple mask of soapstone, with holes bored through 

 its edge to permit its being attached to a string. Both 

 have decided Indian features, perhaps more noticeable in 

 the smaller specimen. Similar carvings, wherever found, 

 have been almost invariably cut from the same material. 

 They are supposed to be Indian idols or "Medicine." 



In this connection the following statement, transcribed 



* At the Institute meeting, Jan. IStli. 



ESSEX INST. BULLETIN. 3* 



