300 ETHNOLOGY. 



Chapter X. 



KNIVES. 



The site of a former Indian village, of which there are many in New 

 Jersey, may be recognized as the spot of a once busy community, by the 

 "mixed" condition of the relics there found. While lately searching 

 through such a heap of broken tools and weapons, a carefully-chipped 

 flint (Fig. 108) of oval outline, sharply edged at every portion of the 

 circumference, was found. Although not a novelty, it was better finished 

 than others found singly in the fields. 



It measures three and one-quarter inches in length, and one inch and 

 seven-eighths in its greatest breadth. One side is straighter and much 

 more finely chipped than the other, and has a sharper edge. The coarser- 

 chipped side evidently was not intended for any use. A glance at this 

 implement shows that, with a handle at the had', or coarsely-chipped sj<?c, 

 it would be a beautiful " scraper." The typical scrapers having a totally 

 different form, however, the proper designation for figure 108 would 

 probably be a knife. 



Figure 109 is a second example of a chipped-jasper knife, not as finely 

 finished as figure 108, but evidently identical in character. Sucb a speci- 

 men might at first seem to be simply a rudely blocked-out arrow-head, 

 which was subsequently thrown aside, but as the like are found singly, 

 scattered over a large portion of the State, and are not very similar to 

 the rejected specimens so abundant where an arrow-maker has worked, 

 it cannot be doubted that they are finished specimens. 



Figure 110 is a third example of these knives, and varies but little 

 from the others, except in being somewhat thicker, and having the two 

 sides more uniform than usual. 



To what cutting purpose such knives were put is a pertinent ques- 

 tion, but one to which my only reply is that I do not know. I have 

 experimented with them to some extent and find that with patience they 

 will cut a green twig, and even flesh. 



Considering savage dexterity with flint, figure 108 appears fitted for 

 use as a scalpiug-knife, though we have never met with any flint imple- 

 ment which archaeologists have classed as knives used for this particular 

 purpose. 



Figures 109 and 110 may be looked upon as quite serviceable knives 

 when we consider the skill evinced b^^ savages in using flint tools. 

 Sir John Lubbock states,* quoting Mr. Galton, that the dexterity 

 with which the savages of Southern Africa butcher and cut up 

 large beasts with the poorest knives is really extraordinary. The 

 Dammaras had usually nothing but bits of flattened iron lashed to 

 handles, or the edges of their flat spears. Yet with these imperfect im- 



*Prehist. Times, 2(1 cd., j). 536. 



