112 MICMAC INDIANS OF NOVA SCOTIA 



a number of years ago at Bachmaii's Beach, near Lunenburg, 

 and furnished a large number of specimens, including many 

 chij^s and some heads not completed. 



Of so-called spear-heads there are a much lesser number. 

 Many of these were probably cutting implements or knives, as 

 also some of the larger arrow-heads as before mentioned. Other- 

 wise we fail to find the aborigine's stone knife, an implement 

 that must have been common among them. Lescarbot makes 

 no mention whatever of spears as in use in his day, although 

 he describes their various other weapons (see previous pages). 

 Denys, however, frequently mentions spears, headed wuth bone, 

 as in use among the tribe, and also knives of bone. There have 

 been found at Milton, Queen's County, a few long, polished 

 slate implements, like poniard blades, one of which is 18 inches 

 long and tapers regularly from 1.75 inch in width at the base 

 to about .75 of an inch near the end, where it suddenly 

 diminishes to a point. These could only have been ceremonial 

 implements, such as the long delicate blades found in Cali- 

 fornia, as their fragile nature would forbid any rough usage, 

 such as that of war or sport. 



While referring to the cutting implements of our Indians, 

 it may be mentioned that the Micmacs at the present time and 

 for as long as is in the memory of man, have exclusively used 

 in woodworking, etc., a peculiarly-shaped knife (somewhat like 

 that of a farrier), the blade of which is made by themselves 

 from an old file, which they invariably use by drawing towards 

 them. This strong preference for a dramng cut, instead of 

 one directed away from the body as is the manner among 

 Europeans, is without doubt of pre-historic origin, and is 

 w^orthy of attention from anthropologists, as possibly having 

 some connection with the similar preference for a drawing cut 

 which is evidenced by some east Asiatic peoples. Reference will 

 be also made to the prevalence here of draw-cut stone imple- 

 ments such as the adze, which I think indicates the former 

 presence or influence of the Eskimo. 



