HAMMER-STONES. 207 



as hammers. Others, however, exhibit battering at both ends, and may 

 have been secured to a handle by a withe passing round the groove, thus 

 leaving both ends of the stone free for use. The Sioux hammer or club, 

 which is here described, is furnished with a small loop for suspension, 

 at the end of the handle. The other Sioux hammer is much smaller, 

 the handle being only 4 inches long-, and the stone weighing less than a 

 pound, but it is secured to the handle in the same manner as the large 

 one. Mr. H. W. Henshaw, while among the Apaches, saw several clubs 

 of a similar character to the Sioux hammers or clubs here described ; 

 but he informs me that they were made as follows : A piece of raw- 

 hide was slit towards its centre, forming several ribbons extending from 

 the central portion, in which a smooth stone was placed and the ribboiis 

 were folded over and sewed with sinews ; the ends of the ribbons 

 were then wrapped around a short handle of wood, to which a wrist-loop 

 was attached. 



The third grooved stone, to which I have alluded above, is used for 

 an entirely different purpose, and is one of the valuable contributions to 

 the Peabodv Museum received from Dr. Edward Palmer during his eth- 

 nological researches in Mexico conducted for the Museum. This stone 

 weighs just a pound, and is suspended by a small string, which passes round 

 the groove, to one end of a balance-stick 16 inches in length. On the 

 other end of the stick there is a simple loop of string with a few notches 

 cut in the wood indicating various weights that could thus be readily 

 determined by holding the stick by a string in its centre, thus forming a 

 rude and primitive balance or "steelyard." Dr. Palmer states that this 

 balance is in common use by the Indians and half-breeds of San Luis 

 Potosi.— F. W. P.] 



Fig. 79 represents a circular thin plate of serpentine quite carefully 

 worked upon both sides, and perforated by eight holes, placed nearly equi- 

 distant around the edge. (S. I. 20421, Santa Barbara, Schumacher.) For 

 want of positive knowledge in the matter, this and similar specimens are 

 classed as ornaments. Such an ornament was perhaps fastened by the aid 

 of the marginal holes to that portion of the dress covering the breast, and 

 when newly made and exhibiting a high polish might justly be considered 



