1888.] J. Wood-Mason — The Prehistoric Antiquities of Banchi. 391 



use of the bow prior to the first introduction of iron. That they used 

 brass after becoming acquainted with iron is clearly proved by the 

 discovery of unquestionable iron arrow-heads in the Patpad cache and 

 in many prehistoric graves iu the South. With an abundance of stone, 

 such as agate, chalcedony, lydian stone, jasper, and chert, fit for mak- 

 ing arrow-heads, it is certainly most remarkable that no true worked 

 arrow-heads have yet been found, and it is most desirable that all pre- 

 historic explorers in India should pay special attention to this point. 

 I have found some few flakes of chert and jasper that might have been 

 used to tip an arrow, but I have found and seen none that were obvi- 

 ously prepared for that purpose." 



Of the objects which have been determined by me to be arrow- 

 heads no less than six, four of one and two of the other of the two 

 distinct forms represented in the collection from Ranchi, are without 

 doubt of this nature, for in addition to having the appropriate shape, 

 in addition to being of such a form that they might have been used to 

 tip an arrow, they have been obviously prepared for that purpose, having 

 been artificially worked either near the butt or at the sides into 

 notches for the reception of cords for securing them to their shaft. 



The specimen represented in Fig. 1 of PI. IV, a very sharp and 

 perfect one of chalcedony, has the butfc-end roughly notched. It is 

 much weathered white and clings strongly to the tongue when touched 

 thereby. 



That represented in Fig. 2, of black chert, has the butt worked by 

 chipping and abrasion into very evident lateral notches ; its point has 

 been broken off at a joint in the stone. The working at the butt is less 

 weathered than the stem, or rather the stem is only slightly wea- 

 thered and the worked butt looks almost quite fresh, and glossy. 



Fig. 3 represents a coarse and heavy specimen of chert deeply 

 weathered to a dirty pale clay brown from black probably ; it is blunted 

 either by use or exposure, at the tip ; it has been roughly worked 

 at the sides towards the base into notches, and when mounted on 

 its shaft must have been covered for nearly half its length from the butt 

 by the cords and resin or gum by which it was no doubc bound to its 

 shaft, to which it must have lent a rather clumsy appearance. 



Fig. 4, of black non-weathered chert, is widest at the butt and 

 therefore was well adapted for secure fixture to the shaft without the aid 

 of any notches. 



Fig. 5 is a particularly interesting specimen, because it without any 

 doubt presents us with a most characteristic example of a contrivance 

 for attachment which is, or until lately was, still in vogue amono-st 

 modern savages for their arrow and lance-heads, and of which numerous 



