CHAP. XIV. WEAPONS OR SYMBOLS? 271 



traces of workmanship, an exception being ... a stone weapon 

 of the ' Morning Star ' type. . . The six-rayed stone star, here 

 found once only, is elsewhere in Peruvian graves by no means 

 rare.^^ 



Though all these writers appear to regard these objects as a 

 kind of battle-axe (and are probably correct so far as those having 

 a ray prolonged into a hatchet are concerned), there are several 

 considerations which make me hesitate to adopt the opinion that 

 the Stars in Stone wei'e habitually used as weapons. The Indians 

 of this region were a quiet, inoifensive, unwarlike people. This is 

 their nature still. Yet these objects were more numerous than 

 any other kinds which were obtained, and are found everywhere. 

 We should therefore be led to conclude that a great part of the 

 population was provided with offensive weapons. The larger of 

 the Stars (which are as heavy as a pound and a quarter) no doubt 

 might be used effectively ; but the smaller ones, weighing only a 

 few ounces, would not be very formidable ; and taking them as 

 a whole they are less adapted either for offensive or defensive 

 purposes than most of the implements which will presently be 

 enumerated. To this may be added that many are uninjured, and 

 do not seem to have been put to any use whatever. Francisco 

 Campana (a half -Indian who joined us during the latter part of 

 the journey) had assisted in the examination of graves in Peru, 

 and said these Stars in Stone were found there placed upon the 

 breasts of corpses ; and it seems to me more likely that they were 

 to the Children of the Sun symbols of the luminary that they 

 worshipped, than that they were employed by the natives for 

 breaking each other's heads. 



Out of the remainder of the objects in stone that were 

 collected, a large number should undoubtedly be classed as 

 Implements. Not a few others are Ornaments, and there is a 

 residuum which may have been either ornamental or useful. 



Upon the accompanying plate five different types of Imple- 

 ments are represented. In the series A— E, the whole of the edges 



