To Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [May 



covery of flint implements in the granitic gravel and red soil of the 

 Jubbulpore district. 



" In my rambles amongst the neighbouring hills, sketch book in hand, 

 I was fortunate enough to hit upon several fragments, which struck 

 me as remarkably similar to some I once saw in the British Museum. 



" I therefore went systematically to work, employing coolies to dig, 

 under the superintendence of myself and some peons. 



" The result has been very satisfactory. 



" By the last mail from Bombay, I forwarded to England to Sir 

 Charles Lyell, two cases of 5 trays each of most perfect specimens, and 

 since their despatch I have forwarded a long paper on the subject, 

 pointing out many interesting peculiarities in these Indian specimens, 

 and describing the manner and geological position of their finding. 



" They consist chiefly of 4 sorts. 



" The hammers and knives of triangular section are of precisely the 

 same kind as those mentioned by Lyell in his " Antiquity of Man" — 

 but the polygonal specimens have never I think been noticed before. 

 They are most perfect, and beautifully polished, especially those in 

 chalcedony. The jasper ones are very varied in colour and present 

 extremely pretty combinations when laid out on the specimen trays. 

 I must mention one stone which I consider a great find. In my paper 

 on the subject I stated that it was difficult to conceive how these 

 implements had been manufactured, as the polygonal arrow heads have 

 their facets curved, as if scooped out with a gouge. I stated it probable 

 that the rough stones had been placed on their bases and that the 

 arrow heads had been gradually punched out of it, by a gouge working 

 downward from the point. In support of this view I instanced a 

 number of the specimens which bore visible marks of a circular punch, 

 which seemed to cut the flint as clean as a cheese-scoop does cheese. 

 I have drawn some of these marks on Fig. A.* They are exactly circu- 

 lar with sloping sides, and vary in size from that of a threepenny bit 

 to that of a pin's head. No one who examines them can have doubts 

 of their being man's handiwork. But what could they have been done 

 with ? If with an iron instrument, why make stone implements when 

 iron was available ? Again, if of iron, how did they manage it ? and 

 have we any instrument at the present date, which will punch holes in 

 flint without cracking it ? Still farther, in some of the impressions 

 * The Figures are not published. 



