114 INDIAN ANTIQUITIES. 



at tlie other ; both ends arc sharpened into cutting-blades. The metal, of a dull yellow color, 

 is hard, light, rings well, and weiglis an ounce and a quarter. The proportion of tin probably 

 approaches six per cent. The surface is corroded, and the sliarp, cutting edges are jagged. 



Alongside of the last figure is a similar tool, but larger, being nearly nine inches long, half 

 an inch wide at one extremity, and three fourths of an inch at the other. The cutting edges 

 are rounded like those of the smaller one, and the thickness varies but little from one eighth 

 of an inch ; weight, two ounces. The metal is a perceptible shade darker, and, as might be 

 inferred irom that circumstance, irot quite so hard. It contains, perhaps, about five per cent, 

 of tin. The surfaces are corroded, but not so much as those of the preceding figure. A number 

 of slight depressions mark both sides, as if it had been stretched lengthwise by the pin of a 

 hammer, though the composition would seem hardly tough enough to bear that. 



Grasped by the middle, these two instruments would even now be no bad substitutes for steel 

 ones for cutting leather, cloth, skins, and other thin materials stretched upon a table, and even 

 for entering soft woods, either in the direction of or across the grain. As drills, they would 

 be quite sufficient for boring into numerous substances. There are, in Boturini's Collection of 

 Mexican MSS., (Sec. Ill, No. 3, of his Catalogue,) figures of artisans carving with and other- 

 wise using such tools. Simple as they seem, there are good points about them, and even in 

 their forms and jn'oportions. Being tapered in width, every instrument presented two blades, 

 and two different sized ones ; while, from the limited and uniform thickness given to the body 

 of each, the least amount of labor was required to restore the cutting-edge when blunted or 

 broken. No forging was wanted ; nothing b)it simple abrasion or grinding. Another capital 

 feature which we, in the midst of iron and steel and the facilities for working them, can hardly 

 appreciate, was, the tool was never worn out until used up. While an inch remained, it could 

 be used by sticking one end into a handle. It is very probable that the form and proportions 

 of these instruments were given to all hard cutting-tools ; while such as were malleable were, 

 like our stone-cutters' chisels, and like the two copper tools, made thicker in the body, and 

 thinned down towards the edges by the hammer. 



A Peruvian knife proper, with a curved blade, is represented in full size below, interesting from 

 its resemblance to those used by modern glovers and saddlers, and by Egyptian harness-makers 

 under the Pharaohs. They have been found variously modified in form and hardness. I met 

 with others more elaborately worked in the handles, in collections of South American antiquities. 

 Very plain ones, as if hammered out of sheet metal, occasionally occur. Like the preceding 

 figures, this instrument was cast, and cast whole. There is an appearance, where the handle 

 joins the blade, of something like welding or soldering, but which is, I believe, due to the 

 junction in the model. The application of nitric acid did not detect any solder. The blade 

 measures 4f inches along the back, which is rather over one eighth of an inch thick, except 

 towards the ends, where it tapers down to the sharpened edge. The handle is cylindrical, 

 three eighths of an inch thick, and moulded in imitation of an inverted bird's leg and foot. 

 "When used, the right hand grasped the shank, while the ball of the thumb rested between the 

 open claws. In this way a firm hold and control of the blade was secured. The metal is 

 slightly softer than that of the two other bronze tools. The instrument has obviously gone 

 through much work. The widest part of the blade is 1^ inch across, which was probably about 

 the original width of the segment. The ornamental marks cast round the shank are nearly 

 worn out. 



With the proprietor of these tools was also buried his whetstone — an indispensable article to 

 every workman in wood and metal with us, but of much more frequent necessity to artisans 

 whose edge-tools were of bronze. It is represented by the remaining figure on this plate — a 

 compact piece of slate 2^ inches long, three eighths of an inch thick, and varying from three 

 quarters of an inch to an inch in width. A small hole is drilled through one end, most likely 

 for a cord to suspend it by. A deep, angular depression has been worn on one side by sharp- 

 ening tools on it, and a shallower one on the other. So similar is it to such things in modern 



