330 ETHNOLOGY. 



leaving, a short distance below the perforation, a quadrangular figure 

 that may be called a hollow sciuare, there being a cleanly-cut depression 

 in the center of the projecting " square," the width of which is just 

 double the depth. Below this figure commences a second, which can 

 be compared to an inverted pick-ax, with the iron arms straighter 

 than usual. It is simply a "raised" ridge, the surrounding surface 

 being cut away to leave it in bold relief. It is not exactly in the cen- 

 ter of the specimen, but near it, the upper ridge or handle of the pick 

 being slightly inclined to one side. Below this the specimen is smoothly 

 polished and somewhat sloped to the end. We cannot see how any 

 doubt can be entertained as to the nature of this specimen. If not a 

 snspcnded ornament, it is safe to express doubt as to an arrow-head being 

 an arrow-head or au ax being an ax. 



Figure 168 is another most interesting specimen of this class of relics. 

 It is a piece of black, well-worn stone, but with no polish ; it is thin, but 

 irregularly so, and has a greasy feel which is most deceptive. One can al- 

 most smell the grease, now stale, with which the object seems to be satu- 

 rated. The specimen is leaf shaped, more pointed at one end than at the 

 other, and, when viewed horizontally, has a striking resemblance to our 

 common sun-fish {Pomotis i^ulgaris). We believe that this fish was in- 

 tended to be represented, and that itwas the tribe mark of the original pos- 

 sessor of this ornament. If such was the case, then the hole which 

 represents the eye of the fish was used to suspend the specimen from 

 the person who carried it. Notwithstanding the unworn condition of 

 the hole, which is of uniform width from one side to the other, we be- 

 lieve that a soft string, probably a sinew, was passed through it and 

 the gorget suspended from the neck. That such was the use of this 

 specimen cannot, as in the preceding example, be doubted. 



Figure 1G9 represents a split, water-worn jasper j)ebble, of somewhat 

 irregular shape, with an extensive perforation through it. The hole is 

 about one-half the diameter upon the under or split side that it is upon 

 the upper. The under side, however, has an equally weather-worn 

 polish with the upper, indicating that the perforation was made subse- 

 quently to the splitting of the pebble, or that many years have elapsed 

 since the " split" pebble was drilled, the peculiar gloss of the fractured 

 surface indicating great age. The somewhat irregular outline of the 

 perforation upon the " split " side of the pebble favors the belief that 

 the fracture occurred after the drilling. This specimen is interesting 

 from its resemblance to an African example figured by Sir John Lub- 

 bock.* This Afiicau drilled stone is square instead of pentagonal, and 

 the drilling is of much less diameter at the junction of the two depres- 

 sions which, together, make the perforation. 



Squier and Davis t seem to be in doubt as to the use of such speci- 

 mens as the preceding seven figures of this chapter. They remark, 

 " at first glance it seems obvious that they were designed for suspen- 



* Jour. Antliiop. lust, of Great Britaiu, vol. i, yl. i. t L. c, p. 238. 



