POLISHED STONE ARTICLES USED BY THE NEW YORK ABORIGINES II 



return to the stone age, such as it was, came through the white man 

 and not through the red. 



It often happens that a number of stone articles can be assigned 

 to one maker, as certainly as we can tell who made an old violin, 

 although we know not his name. Things hundreds of miles apart 

 will be found of some peculiar material and form, which can hardly 

 be accidental. They will not be many in number, but they will 

 have individual character. We recall many such. The skilful ab- 

 original artificer was as highly honored as any among civilized men, 

 and his work had a wide reputation. In other lands early records 

 show this in words which we can read. Here the record exists only 

 in stone. 



Usually articles which required much drilling of any kind, were 

 blocked out before this was done. Thus all percussion was avpided 

 after the perforation was complete, while sufficient material was left 

 to allow for any deviation from right lines in drilling. Grinding and 

 polishing then safely proceeded. Polishing and perforation some- 

 times went on together with disastrous results, a break in the surface 

 spoiling the pipe or banner stone. The extent to which this drill- 

 ing was carried is often surprising and the same may be said of its 

 accuracy, specially when, as in many tubes and banner stones, it was 

 made from both ends, meeting in the center. In its way it was as 

 great a feat as some modern tunneling. Rarely does it deviate 

 from a straight line. 



CELTS 



The grooved axe, as will hereafter appear, is rare in most of New 

 York, and its place is supplied by some of the many forms of celts, 

 often known as deer skinners. These are occasionally roughened 

 toward the upper part of the lateral edges, to give a better grip 

 to the handle. These axes were in use when Champlain encoun- 

 tered the Mohawks on Lake Champlain in 1609, although some had 

 already obtained iron axes from the traders, who had frequented 

 the lower St. Lawrence for more than 70 years. He was surprised 

 that they could do so much with such poor tools, and these must 

 have been far more effective than most antiquarians have thought, 

 for in this instance fire was not used. He said they ' began to hew 



