OF THE SHELL-MOUNDS. 



73 



have, been used for cutting, but is merely the result of that 

 form, which was found by the fishermen to be most con- 

 venient. He also calls attention to the polished facets on 

 their surfaces, which he regards as affording strong support 

 to his opinion. 



It must be at once admitted, that there are many of these 



FIG. 82. 



FIG. 84, 



New Zealand Adze. 



"axes" which can never have been used for cutting, but 

 these may be regarded as failures, and are certainly not to 

 be taken as normal specimens. It is true that the two 

 surfaces, constituting the edge, form a very obtuse angle with 

 one another, but we must remember that if this detracts from 

 the sharpness, it adds greatly to the strength. Moreover, the 

 angle is almost exactly the same as that which we find in 

 the adzes of the New Zealanders, and other South Sea 

 Islanders. Figs. 82-84, represent a recent adze, brought 

 by the Rev. R. Taylor from New Zealand, and now in the 

 British Museum, which very closely resembles the typical 



