Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 27.djvu/325

Rh remark, however, is exclusive of all objects of hematite. So many hundreds of these are manufactured in Cincinnati and other cities, that no object of this material should be admitted into a museum or private cabinet unless its history rendered fraud absolutely impossible. Attempts at making grooved axes have been brought to my notice, but they were so rudely shaped, and so new in appearance, that deception was impossible. The flat pebbles, with two or four notches, known as "net-sinkers," are readily made, but are so abundant that to manufacture them, instead of looking for those made by the Indians, has not yet become profitable.

The Indians were quick to perceive how readily thin, flat sandstone pebbles could be perforated, and so become available as ornaments. Such objects I have gathered by the score from graves and village sites; and, as a result of calling the attention of collectors to these perforated disks, I find that they are now made in large numbers; being perforated with flint drills, and the "new" surfaces carefully polished with leather and emory. This gives the appearance of age, and such specimens are readily palmed off upon the unwary. Indeed, detection of the fraud is well-nigh impracticable. A rainy Saturday means mischief, so far as country school-boys are concerned; for I find that they often congregate in some quiet corner to drill pebbles and repoint arrow-heads; and then, lying in wait for the professor or the "'Gasy (Agassiz) Club" boys, from town, unload upon them the remarkable "finds" (?) made since their last vistvisit [sic]. I do not wish to discourage archæological research, but simply to warn enthusiastic students against dangers to which they are exposed; for I speak from sad experience.

Of frauds in mound pottery and striped slate, I need not here make other mention than to caution the purchaser of specimens; for there are abundant counterfeits offered by dealers in curiosities. I do not mean to imply that these dealers are acquainted with the true history of the objects exposed for sale, for they, like the archæologists, are frequently imposed upon.

Unexaggerated as are the dangers of imposition such as I have pointed out, they are really insignificant as compared with that attaching to the purchase of steatite implements. It is well known that the Indians made constant use of this mineral for the manufacture of cooking-vessels, for smoking-pipes, and, to a limited extent, for small ornaments; but probably never for weapons. As the mineral is so readily worked, the cunning Flint Jacks have long been in the nefarious business of imitating pots, pipes, and trinkets, without number.

Philadelphia has the honor (?) of being the headquarters of steatite frauds; and it is not long since that one hundred beautiful objects, made by one man, were added to an extensive collection, at a cost of five hundred dollars. Had not the discovery of their origin been made in time, it would have resulted in American archæologists