METALLIC ORNAMENTS OF NEW YORK INDIANS 27 



the same material, is from the same place, and is now 2.\ inches in 

 length. 



A very fine human figure of iron came from the same 1 place. 

 There is an expanded base instead of the lower limbs, and it is nude 

 except for either a serpent or a scarf passing over one shoulder and 

 under the other. It is but little corroded, and may be of a later date 

 than the site. A rude but spirited figure of an ape shows greater 

 marks of age. This is also of iron, and both may have been chil- 

 dren's toys. The last four are now in the state collection. 



Lead medals or ornaments 



Of about the same age as these animal forms is a series of lead 

 ornaments suggestive of medals. In a sense they are rude, but 

 some have well formed letters or numerals stamped or engraved on 

 them. Fig. 230 is an elliptic medal, the loop of which has been 

 broken off. On the side represented is a human figure, holding by 

 the hands to a crossbar. On one side of the figure is a serpent 

 with open mouth. Unfortunately the writer did not draw or take 

 notes of the reverse. It was found on Darwin McClure's farm, 

 Hopewell. Mr J. V. H. Clark described one like this, from the 

 Onondaga fort of 1696, as " a medal of lead, oval-shaped, an inch 

 and a half long, with the figure of a man suspended by his out- 

 stretched hands, supposed to be a representation of our Saviour on 

 the cross, and a figure of a serpent. On the opposite side is a figure 

 of a man in a sitting posture, resembling the characteristic position 

 of the native prophets; or, as some interpret it, the devil." Clark, 

 2:280 



Fig. 228 is a fine lead medal belonging to C. F. Moseley, and 

 found by him at Honeoye Falls. On the side represented were 

 well formed letters in a circle. Within and without these are sev- 

 eral circles, and in the center are indistinct forms. Mr Moseley 

 thought these parts of a building, perhaps a church. The writer 

 could trace certainly only what seemed indistinct crosses. Of the 

 letters, BEN appeared very plainly. This may be part or an abbre- 

 viation of Benedictus. Like most of these medals, this is made of 



