674 An Ancient Sceptre. [ November, 
adzes, and axes, it is beyond question that these perforated spec- 
imens of stone work are either simply ornaments or badges of 
office. My reasons for believing them to be the latter are, as 
already stated, their comparative rarity, the absence of all indi- 
cation of their having been put to any use whereby portions of the 
surface are worn or chipped off, and thirdly, that when found in 
graves they are associated with other elaborate relics, that of 
themselves give evidence of the rank of the person buried. 
(Fia 60.) ANCIENT INDIAN SCEPTRE. 
The variation of form, too, may be mentioned as indicative of 
the ornamental or badge-like character of the implement, the 
shape of the “ wings ” never approaching a tool-like appearance, 
but varying in the direction of the fantastic,! so that many = 
miniature pickaxes, or double picks. On the other hand, the 
central tube may be quite long, and the broad ‘ wings ” give the 
specimen a heart-shaped outline. Such specimens, however, 
may really not be sceptres, but winged medicine tubes, that the 
Indian physician used in sucking or blowing away the disease 
afflicting his patient. 7 
The specimen here figured is doubly interesting, from the fact 
that one portion is scored with a series of notches about its mat- 
gin, which add, I consider, great weight to the suggestion that 
these implements are banner-stones, or badges. I prefer the 
term “sceptre.” Marginal notches such as here shown 1n F Ig 
ure 60 are records of some one event, frequently repeated ; M 
this case, possibly of successful wars with a hostile tribe, ae 
the personal prowess of the owner of the badge. The addition 
may have 
ornamentation, simulating the veining of a leaf, too, 
some such meaning. 
1 Stevens’s Flint Chips, American edition, page 506. 
