Stone Implements in Lateritic formations. 21 



durance ; and possibly it was found easier to obtain the 

 requisite amount of acuteness for the cutting edge by chip- 

 ping the stone into an oval shape. In the best finished and 

 best preserved Implements, the angle of the cutting edge 

 will be frequently found to be less acute than in the rougher 

 Implements made with may fewer blows of the chipping 

 instrument. Experience no doubt had shown to the work- 

 man of that ancient period that the less acute edge was of 

 far greater endurance. 



Mr. Evans thinks that the large sized specimens of the 

 analogous flint Implements may have been used as axes — 

 the smaller as sling stones propelled either from an ordinary 

 sling or from the end of a cleft stick. 



He also points out that frequently the variation of form 

 depended on the defects of the flints. Such is unquestion- 

 ably the true reason for the variation in form of many of 

 the quartzite Implements — the workman had to adapt 

 themselves to their materials, and in some cases where the 

 original form of the stone or pebble suited them, they re- 

 tained it. The greater or less degree of skill possessed by 

 the workmen would also inevitably appear in their several 

 productions. 



From the smaller and rudely made oval Implements, such 

 as may have been employed as sling stones, the transition 

 to the sub class c of discoiclal Implements is obvious. 



These certainly exhibit less of skill and design than any 

 of the other unequivocal Implements — and this renders it 

 increasingly difficult to assign the objects for which they 

 may have been fashioned into a rudely discoid shape. Like 

 the smaller oval weapons they may have been prepared for 

 sling stones. A Native to whom one was shown by my 

 colleague Mr. King, suggested it had been used as a flint for 

 striking fire with, 



