316 ETHNOLOGY. 



aud it is to be presumed that they were exclusively used for 

 miuiug- purposes. Dr. Wilson describes * those found in the copper- 

 mining regions of Lake Superior, as " water-worn bowlders of green- 

 stone or porpbj'fy, roughly chipped in the center, so as to admit 

 of their being secured by a withe around them. But others are 

 well finished, with a single or double groove for attaching the 

 handle by which they were wielded. They weigh from ten to forty 

 pounds."' It will be noticed here that his description applies also 

 to the majority of the specimens we have found in New Jersey, 

 where probably there was no mining, though copper occurs about New 

 Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey, and the surface lumps of 

 native copper were eagerly sought for and utilized by the Indians. We 

 do not remember ever having met with a stone hammer exceeding ten 

 pounds in weight, the minimum weight of the stone mauls described 

 by Dr. Wilson ; but they may occur, however, as the weight of the 

 largest grooved ax we have seen was twelve pounds lacking two 

 ounccs.t The hammers found in New Jersey are usually made of sand- 

 stone; but the "mauls," as described by Dr. Wilson, are sometimes of 

 porphyry, a mineral generally used for fine axes and " skinning-knives," 

 but to our knowledge not at all for hammers. 



Grooved hammers, /or mining purposes , are described by Mr. Evans ;t 

 they are similar to many of the surface-found hammers of New Jersey, 

 but are smaller generally than the Lake Superior " mauls.*' 



Chapter XIV. 



CHISELS AND GOUGES. 



Messrs. Squier and Davis,§ in describing the various forms of stone axes 

 trom mounds, as well as from elsewhere throughout the United States, 

 remark that "the form of these relics seems to have been determined 

 entirely by the manner in which they were designed to be used. Those 

 intended for deadening trees, or as war-axes, have grooves for the 

 adjustment of handles. There are many which are destitute of this 

 feature, and which were probably designed for chisels or gouges.'''' The 

 specimens of "chisels" figured, however, are there also called, aud 

 very properly, "hand-axes," and are identical with those wo have 

 figured as "celts." No true chisel or gouge — and they are different — 

 is illustrated or, we believe, referred to. The implement we have called 

 a " chisel," is an elongated, oval, cobble-stone, that has been pecked 

 over the greater portion of its surface; it is well rounded at one end, and 

 at the other has been carefully ground to a sharp cutting-edge. The 

 under side is rounded, very uniform throughout the whole length, and 

 curved toward the ends, so that, while lying on that side, it will rock to 

 aud fro, if touched. Two-thirds of the upper surface have been smoothly 



*Prehist. Mau, 2(1 cd., p. KiL 



t In the cabinet of Jlicliael Ncv/bolil, esq., of Burlington County, New Jersey 



t Anc. Stone Imp. Great Brit., pp. 203-210. 



$ Anc. Mon. Miss. Valley p. 217. 



