198 



ANCIENT MONUMENTS. 



measures six and one third inches in lenojth, by three and one third in width on 

 the edge. Unlike the other, it has a nearly straight cutting surface ; the blade, 

 however, is curved or gouge-shaped, closely resembling the adze at present used 

 in hollowing timbers, and it was probably applied to a similar purpose with that 

 instrument. Its head is slightly battered, as if it had sustained blows from a ham- 

 mer, or had itself been used in pounding. 



It may seem incomprehensible to many persons, how these axes, being destitute 

 of an eye for the insertion of a handle, and not even possessing the groove of the 

 Indian stone axe, for the reception of a withe, could have been used with any 

 effect. They were doubtless fitted in the same manner with those of the ancient 

 Mexicans and Peruvians, with which, from all accounts, they seem to be identical 

 in form. 



" The Mexicans," observes Clavigero, " made use of an axe to cut trees, which 

 was also made of copper, and was of the same form with those of modern times, 

 except that we put the handle in an eye of the axe, while they put the axe in an 

 eye of the handle."* 



The Pacific Islanders have a sort of adze, which is formed by firmly lashing a 

 blade of stone, with its cutting edge at right angles, to a handle, having a sharp 

 crook at its extremity. This mode of fastening would enable the axe with the 

 curved blade to be used with the greatest efficiency as an adze. That it was 

 designed to be so used, seems apparent from the fact that the edge is not formed 

 by bevelling from both sides, but from the inner surface only, precisely in the 



manner that the adze of the present day is ground. Fig. 83 exhibits the probable 

 manner in which these instruments were fitted for use. 



The circumstances under which these interesting relics were discovered, are 

 detailed in the chapter on the Mounds. (See page 154.) It will be seen they 

 were not found where, as a general and almost invariable rule, we must look for 

 the only authentic remains of the mound-builders, viz. at the bottom of the mound. 

 They are nevertheless classed as undoubted relics of the ancient race. The 

 implements of the modern Indians are found, whenever they occur in the mounds, in 



* " The copper axes of the Peruvians differ very little in shape from ours ; and it appears that these 

 were the implements with which they performed most of their works. They are of various shapes and sizes : 

 the edge of some is more circular than others, and some have a concave edge." — Ulloa, vol. i. p. 48.3. 



