THE MAORI’S PLACE IN HISTORY. 289 
Polynesia, and that the numerals are the same in the languages of 
both countries ? 
One remark more I would add. The writer alludes to the vast 
buildings in Egypt in ancient times, and intimates that when they 
were built the Egyptians had no knowledge of iron. Now it is 
true that Prof. Flinders Petrie holds that view: but M. Maspero 
holds the contrary. He says that in the masonry of the Pyramids 
a few remnants of iron tools have been found and none of bronze ; 
and if more have not been found elsewhere it is highly probable 
that it is because iron rusts away more readily than any other metal; 
and he holds it as inconceivable that those vast structures could have 
been built without iron tools and especially that the statues could be 
so finished. He also denies that the Egyptians had the power to 
make their copper “as hard as iron,” or to give it an iron-like 
temper. On the other hand he says the Egyptians had no know- 
ledge of steel, but that in all likelihood they work, as he has known 
skilled forgers of antiquities to do. ‘‘ These men,’’ says he, “ work 
with some twenty common iron chisels at hand, which after a very 
few turns are good for nothing. When one is blunted, they take 
up another, and so on till the stock is exhausted. Then they go 
to the forge, and put their tools into working order again. The 
process is neither so long nor so difficult as might be supposed. 
In the Boulak Museum there may be seen a life-sized head which 
was produced from a block of black and red granite in less than a 
fortnight by one of the best forgers in Luxor.” 
Mr. Tueo. Prncues, LL.D.—There is one question as to metals 
which is a very interesting one. My speciality, the study of 
Assyrian and Babylonian inscriptions, shows, it seems to me, that 
the use of iron was knownat a very remote period—how far back 
I cannot say; but the Babylonians and Assyrians used it largely, 
and also copper and bronze. 
It is a remarkable thing that jade is so very scarce in that part of 
the world, and that there have been so few examples of it found. If 
I remember rightly there is only one object of jade from Babylon 
and that is a cylinder seal, now in the British Museum. Others 
may have been found of late years; but, if so, no knowledge of it 
has come to me. : 
The question of the colour of jasper, referred to in the paper, is 
somewhat new, and, as the Secretary remarked, in the course of 
reading it,it is generally of a red colour; but green jasper does occur. 
U 
