21 



2. Horn Implements. (See d. Figure 1.) The only imple- 

 ment of this class that we have yet found is the fish spear head 

 (Figure d). It was probably made from the antlers of a deer 

 killed in the chase. Its barbed edge indicates that it was used 

 for spearing fish. It is in a fair state of preservation. 



3. Copper. No discovery of the mounds so fills the mind of 

 the Archaeologist with joy as that of copper implements. Cop- 

 per mining has now by the discovery in the Lake Superior 

 region, of mining shafts long deserted, in which copper was 

 quarried by stone hammers on a large scale, been shown to 

 have been pursued in very ancient times on this continent. It 

 is of intense interest for us to know that not only are there 

 mines found on the south side of Lake Superior, but also at 

 Isle Royale, on the north side just at the opening of Thunder 

 Bay, and immediately contiguous to the Grand Portage, where 

 the canoe route to Rainy River, so late as the 19th century, 

 started from Lake Superior. According to the American 

 Geologists the traces for a mile are found of an old copper 

 mine on this Island. One of the pits opened showed that the 

 excavation had been made in the solid rock to the depth of 

 nine feet, the walls being perfectly smooth. A vein of native 

 copper eighteen inches thick was discovered at the bottom. 

 Here is found also, unless I am much mistaken, the mining 

 location whence the Takawgamis of Rainy River obtained 

 their copper implements. Two copper implements are in our 

 possession, one found by Mr. E. McColl in the Grand Mound, 

 and the other by Mr. Alexander Baker in a small mound ad- 

 joining this. 



(a) Copper Needle or Drill. (See a. Figure 1.) This was 

 plainly used for some piercing or boring purpose. It is hard, 

 yields with difficulty to the knife, and is considered by some 

 to have been tempered. It may have been for drilling out soft 

 stone implements, or was probably used for piercing as a 

 needle soft fabrcs of bark and the like, which were being 

 sewed together. 



(b) Copper Cutting Knife. (See E. Figure 1.) This has 

 evidently been fastened into a wooden handle. It may have 

 been used for cutting leather, being in the shape of a saddler's 

 knife, or was perhaps more suited for scraping the hides and 

 skins of animals being prepared for use. 



Some twenty miles above the mound on the Rainy River at 

 Fort Frances a copper chisel buried in the earth was found by 

 Mr. Pither, then H. B. Company agent, and was given by him 

 to the late Governor McTavish. The chisel was ten inches 

 long, was well tempered, and was a good cutting instrument. 



