CLUBS WITH HEADS OF STONE. 143 



were of serpentine, and about the size of the largest flattened specimens 

 from California. He was unable, however, to give any information as to 

 their use, but was surprised at finding only two during his explorations of 

 over sixty thousand tombs. 



As there is as much evidence that circular perforated stones were used 

 by savages of modern times for heads of clubs, as there is of the use of the 

 same kind of stones as weights for digging-sticks, it is very likely that many 

 of the ancient stones were designed for weapons, as has already been sug- 

 gested by several writers and noted in the preceding pages. 



The rudest form of these clubs armed with stone is that described by 

 Sir John Lubbock,* as used by the Australians. It, however, differs from 

 all others, inasmuch as the club-head is not made of a perforated stone, 

 but of two stones placed on opposite sides of the stick, and held together 

 by a mass of gum. It is also stated that this club, or, as he calls it, 

 " hammer used for killing seals and other animals and for breaking shell- 

 fish," has a "handle from twelve to fifteen inches long, pointed at one end." 

 In contrast with this rude implement or weapon is one in the Peabody Museum 

 (No. 13945) received from Queensland, f Australia. This consists of a handle 

 of hard wood three and a half feet long, one inch in diameter at its largest 

 end, and tapering gradually to a sharp point. Two and a half inches from 

 the large end there is fastened a disk of hard dark-colored stone, four and a 

 half inches in diameter and three-quarters of an inch thick in the centre, 

 where it has a straight perforation, and through this the handle passes. 

 This stone is finely polished and worked to a sharp or cutting edge, which 

 has been slightly abraded by use. The stone is prevented from slipping 

 down the stick by three rings apparently made of split and braided bam- 

 boo. xVbove the stone is a similar ring, over which and covering the stick 

 for the whole space above the stone, is fine braided work ending in a 

 tuft of bright-colored feathers. Such an article as this might well be con- 

 sidered as a sort of baton; but after holding it in the hand for a moment 

 it becomes evident that it would be as formidable as a weapon as it is orna- 

 mental as a badge of office. The elaborate finish of this weapon certainly 



* Prehistoric Times, p. 441. 



tl do not find any account of similar weapons from Queensland, and it is probable that this one 

 was originally from New Guinea or some adjacent island. 



