442 ARROWS. HARPOONS. 



such skill as this ! How true also must the weapons be ! 

 Indeed, it is very evident that each distinct type of flint 

 implement must have been designed for some distinct pur- 

 pose. Thus the different forms of arrowhead, of harpoon, or 

 of stone axe, cannot have been intended to be used in the 

 same manner. Among the North American Indians the 

 arrows used in hunting were so made that when the shaft 

 was drawn out of the wound the head came out also; while 

 in the war arrows the shaft tapered to the end, so that even 

 when it was withdrawn the head of the arrow remained in 

 the wound. Again, the different forms of harpoons are 

 illustrated by the barbed and unbarbed lances of the Esqui- 

 maux (ante, p. 403). Unfortunately, however, we have but 

 few details of this kind ; travellers have generally thought it 

 unnecessary to observe or record these apparently unimpor- 

 tant details ; and that our knowledge of flint implements is 

 most rudimentary, is well shown by the discussion between 

 Professors Steenstrup and Wbrsaae, whether the so-called 

 "axes" of the shell-mounds were really axes, or whether 

 they were not rather used in fishing. 



We may hope, however, that in future those who have the 

 opportunity of observing stone implements among modern 

 savages will give us more detailed information both as to 

 the exact manner in which they are used, and also about 

 the way in which they are made ; that they will collect not 

 only the well-made weapons, but also, and even more care- 

 fully, the humble implements of every-day life. 



Some archaeologists have argued that the shell-mound 

 builders of Denmark must have possessed more formidable 

 weapons than any that have yet been found, because it was 

 considered impossible that they could have killed large 

 game, as for instance the bull and seal, with the simple 

 weapons of bone and stone, which alone have hitherto been 

 discovered. Professor Worsaae, in his well-known work 



