INDIAN ANTIQUITIES. 119 



hooks to catcli fisli tliere, arrows to kill game, and implements of male and female industry, 

 with smaller matters to please their children. There is something affecting in the members of 

 a family being thus accompanied with their little stock of valuables on their exodus out of this 

 world in quest of another. Happily, they had no idea that their treasures would be stolen 

 here, and even their own bodies borne off as curiosities, by people of another race. 



A few articles are in copper and bronze, all deejjly corroded and swelled beyond their natural 

 dimensions by blossoms of green oxide. 



1. The triangular blade of a knife rather more than two inches across the cutting-edge, 

 perpendicular to which arose a plain and flat handle. A part only remains, three sixteenths of 

 an inch thick. The alloy is similar to that of the knife on Plate VIII. A little forked piece 

 (of wood probably, though it is reduced to the color and consistence of caked snuff) has been 

 secured by twine over the stump, and gives a smooth termination to the shank. 



2. A fish-hook of bronze about the size of a mackerel hook, half an inch across the bend, the 

 short end 1^ inches, and the other end longer. The last had been attached to a slip of bone or 

 wood: the lashing was remaining round both. On dissolving the oxide by an acid, the metallic 

 portion remaining was found to be one eighth of an inch thick at the bend, and to taper thence 

 to both ends. If there had been a barb at one and a notch or loop at the other, they had been 

 eaten away. This hook is stiff, and as difficult to bend as if it had been made of iron. 



3. A similarly formed but smaller hook. The shank is 1^ inches long, and retains the lashing 

 that attached it to the fishing-line. The only observable difference in the contour of these 

 hooks and of ours is the greater length given to the short ends ; possibly to compensate for the 

 absence of barbs. 



4. A still smaller hook, half imbedded in a portion of the line that had been buried with it. 

 In dimensions it resembles those temporary hooks made by boys of pins. To attempt to remove 

 its bright green envelope would probably destroy it. 



5. Another hook (a straight one) a little over two inches long, with a barb neatly tied on. 

 Like the others, the finely twisted line has disappeared, except some small portions imbedded 

 in the copper rust. 



6. A singular looking article, and one whose use it is next to impossible to divine. At the 

 first glance upon its arrival, when its general and rough contour only was observable, it had 

 some resemblance to the handle of a sword with a portion of the blade projecting from it; but 

 then there were two shapeless protuberances that increased the difficulty. After dissolving the 

 encrusted covering in an acid, and "pickling^" (to use a brazier's phrase), so as to bring out 

 a clean surface, the relic assumed another appearance, but one as much of an enigma as before. 

 A very definite idea of it cannot be communicated without a drawing. 



For the purpose of description, let it be supposed an insignia of office worn on the hand. It 

 is an elliptical band, with an opening three and a half inches one way, and an inch the other. 

 It might be slipped over the four fingers till one end was between the thumb and forefinger. 

 The upper surface passing across the back of the hand is an inch wide, and ornamented with 

 sunken scroll or square work. The part in contact with the palm is plain, and not half so 

 wide. From one end is an ornamented projecting piece 1^ inch long, and nearly as wide as 

 the band. It rests on the thumb if the band be slipped on with it in that direction, or extends 

 at right angles from the little finger if the band be slipped on reversely. This 23iece has a 

 longitudinal slit, which divides it in two, except at the junction with the band, where the 

 casting is very perfect. But the most curious part consists of two figures (apparently of Incas 

 from the head-dresses) rising from the middle of the band. They project over an inch, are 

 within three quarters of an inch of each other, and both look one way, with their backs to the 

 above-named projection. They are in a sitting posture, holding cups, or something else, to 

 their mouths ; and minute as they are, the arms, legs, and thighs are singularly relieved. As 

 a piece of casting, it is a surprising piece of work. None of our founders could produce the 

 like from their moulds. 



