182 



APPEND IX. 



sizes ; the edge of some is more circular tlian others, and some have a concave 

 edge."— (Vol. I., p. 483.) 



The knowledge of alloying was possessed by both the Mexicans and Peruvians, 

 whereby they were enabled to make instruments of copper of sufficient hardness to 

 answer the purposes for which steel is now deemed essential. Their works in 

 stone and wood, whether in dressing the huge blocks of porphyry composing some 

 of their structures, or in sculpturing the unique statues which are found scattered 

 over the seats of their ancient cities, were carried on entirely with such instruments, 

 or with still ruder ones of obsidian and other hard stones. 



The metal used as an alloy was tin ; and the various Peruvian articles subjected 

 to an analysis, are found to contain from three to six per cent, of that metal. The 

 chisel analyzed by Humboldt contained copper 94, tin 6. — (Res., Vol. I., p. 260.) 

 Figure 68 is a reduced sketch of a copper knife found in 

 Peru, by J. H. Blake, Esq., of Boston. It has about four 

 per cent, of tin. This gentleman informs me, that " The 

 knives, gravers, and other implements, found by myself in 

 Peru, contain from three and a half to four per cent, of tin, 

 which is sufficient to give them a very considerable degree 

 of hardness.* The knives which I send you were found 

 about the person of a mummy which 1 took from an ancient 

 cemetery near Arico. Various household articles were found 

 with it ; but these were the only ones of metal, except a medal of silver suspended 

 around the neck. The chisels or gravers ai-e pointed at one end, with a cutting 

 edge at the broad part. They were found at various places in the northern part 

 of Peru. At the ancient city of Atacama, I found several hoes of copper, shaped 

 very much like the 'grubbing-hoes' to be found in our warehouses." 



Figure 69 is a reduced sketch of an ancient Peruvian spear-head, of copper. 



found in a Peruvian huaca or tumulus, near Lima, whence it was brought by the 

 late Dr. Marmaduke Burrojighs, in 1826, and by him presented to Dr. S. G. Morton, 

 of Philadelphia, in whose possession it now is. It is somewhat flattened, and 

 regularly four-sided from the point to within a third of the distance from the larger 

 end, where it becomes cyhndrical. This part is hollow, for the reception of tbe 

 handle. The metal is not hardened, and is now covered with a green oxyde. The 



* The Indians of Chile, previous to the discovery by the Spaniards, made use of a kind of bronze metal, 

 found native in the country, which is an alloy of copper, zinc, and antimony, called campahil by the 

 Spaniards. From this they formed their cutting instruments. — [Mierx Trav., Vol. II., p. 464.) 



