646 NOTES ON ABORIGINAL RELICS KNOWN AS PLUMMETS. 
find the following description of the mountain and the relics of 
art found in it, among which were ‘‘some instruments resembling 
plummets.” Where the mountain now stands was a valley trav- 
ersed by a river. Here ages since, there commenced a deposit 
with gold, pebbles, mud and sand. Volcanic action encrusted 
these with ashes, and at last all was covered by the lava. As the 
valley filled up, the water of the river cut on each side of the 
accumulating mass a channel commencing at the base of the 
deposit of lava. In time it washed its way until the Table 
Mountain stands erect and two valleys are formed, one on either 
side of it. This mountain extends with its flat summit for miles, 
its surface edge being a bold bluff of black appearing rock, with 
little or no vegetation upon its plane. The thickness of the entire 
deposit averages from one to two hundred feet, the height of the 
lava above the newly formed valleys being from one thousand 
to fifteen hundred feet. The miner seeking the auriferous deposit, 
having, by sinking a shaft, ascertained the greatest depth of the 
whole deposit, tunnels from the side of the valley, and this prices 
has brought to light teeth of extinct mammalia as well as relics of 
human art. Among these were two stone objects which were ve 
posed to be shovels used in cooking, by placing them upon or ino 
the burning fuel; a mortar or dish, some instruments resembling 
plummets, and several spear heads.” * 
In all the specimens thus far described, no effort whatever was 
made by the artist to modify the form of the implement for the 
sake of either ornament or novelty, except the Marietta speci- 
men, which had silver worked in the crevices. Whether of stone, 
: ‘ j : with the 
copper or iron ore, it consists simply of a double cone, 
bulge nearer the base than top, and a very slight groove p wie 
the small end, for the purpose of tying the string by which it 
suspended. Not even a line or mark is found upon their sm ee 
polished surfaces, but the following relic (Figs. 137 and maser 
exception to the above rule. The profile is neatly cut 2s artical 
: pos ; instrument. 
artist had worked with a sharp cutting 1n to it a strong 
occiput, retreating forehead and massivé jaws, give 
that the aboriginal artist was attemptin ae 
trait, or at least, that he had succeeded in presenting t 
teristic features of the Red Indian. 
*AMERICAN NATURALIST, vol. II, P. 388. 
The streaks of black paint 4 
