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The method of making these flint weapons was for 
a long time a mechanical pnzzle, Mr. Catlin, the cele- 
brated American traveller, gave me a wonderful account of 
his visit to the workshop of an Indian, who made arrow- 
heads, in the rocky mountains. It was quite a romantic 
story. He told me that the secret of the manufacture was 
concealed with the most religious care, and that the door of 
the wigwam in which this trade was carried on, was vigi- 
lantly guarded by an armed sentry. He told me also, that 
this mysterious profession was held in the highest estimation, 
and hereditary, and that these cunning workmen were looked 
upon as priests. Sir William Wylde, in writing upon this sub- 
ject, says, " The trade of the gun-flint-maker gives but a faint 
idea of the process by which such specimens of exquisite 
workmanship could have been fashioned." 
However, Sir Edward Belcher, in his last voyage to the 
arctic regions, not only saw the whole process of making flint 
arrow-heads, but easily acquired the art himself, and shewed 
it to us all, at the meeting of the British Association at 
Oxford. The simple tool employed for this purpose, is 
nothing more than a small bone, about three inches long, 
with a little piece of horn, or chert, fastened into it, near the 
end. With this rude instrument resting upon a wooden 
block, or bench, the flint- flake was readily converted into an 
arrow or spear-head, by nipping little chips off it. If Mr. 
Catlin or Sir William Wylde could have seen the beautiful 
series of flint arrow-heads which I have the pleasure to 
exhibit on this occasion, and which have been all made at 
Bridlington, in your own county, by the celebrated " Flint 
Jack," their speculations as to their mysterious fabrication 
would have been brought to a ludicrous conclusion. 
In addition to these stone and flint weapons, and tools, we 
find associated with them sling stones of various sizes and 
forms ; necklaces of perforated stones, shells, or small pieces 
