a wonderful sculptured stone which had been found the week before by some workmen of Mr. Seneca A. Ladd. As Mr. Ladd is quite a naturalist, and has already an extensive private collection of relics and specimens, he was delighted with the new discovery, and exhibited and explained the really remarkable relic with an enthusiasm which only the genuine student can feel.

The stone was found at a depth of about two feet, in the sandy

drift at the head of the lake, where the ground apparently had not been disturbed for centuries. The location is at the point where Lake Waukewan ("Measly Pond") originally emptied into Lake Winnipiseogee, and was, no doubt, a favorite fishing ground for the primitive tribes that formerly inhabited that region. The water has been diverted from this channel, and now flows through a canal furnishing the remarkable water power of forty feet per

pendicular fall, which carries on the hosiery and other manufactories here. About the first of June Mr. Ladd was causing the digging of post holes for a fence, when one of the laborers threw out what was apparently a lump of clay some six inches in thickThe occurrence of such a body in this soil attracted Mr. Ladd's attention, and a slight examination revealed a section of the stone. After a careful cleaning process, with water and

ness.

brushes, the coating of clay was removed and he was delighted to find himself in possession of as interesting an archæological relic as yet found in New England. It is not to be wondered at that he takes pride in showing it, and preserves it with the greatest care. We were kindly allowed to make sketches of it, and have had the illustrations engraved to which we shall

refer.

The stone is of an oval form, smoothly finished upon the surface, and of as perfect contour as if turned in a lathe. Its dimensions are 3 inches in length and 23 inches in thickness. The material is a silicious sandstone of a greenish clay-drab color and of fine grain. The sculptures are mostly in bas-relief, upon a ground sunk below the surface of the stone and of a higher grade of art than usual in Indian workmanship. It is difficult to con

Fig. 141.

ceive that such work could be done without the aid of metal tools. A hole was drilled through the longest diameter which tapered uniformly from of an inch at the larger end to at the smaller, the use of which was probably the same as in the class of stones known as "gorgets," to which we should refer it. Around the aperture at each end was a border of points like a star, as will be seen by figure 139.

6

Figure 139 is intended to give an idea of the form of the stone, the figures at the sides being the profiles of Figs. 140 and 142. The Indian mask' has the characteristic outline and projecting mouth seen in other specimens of Indian art. The wavy lines on the forehead are supposed to indicate the hair. The finish of the whole is quite elaborate.

In figure 140 the dotted line is intended to indicate the position

of the picture on the stone. The lines of the 'wigwam' are regularly drawn, and the surface is "pricked up" or roughened. The circle below is perfectly rounded and supposed to represent the full moon, although every one has the privilege of forming his own theories in regard to the significance of the symbols.

Figure 141 has a delineation of four arrows' inverted. Under neath this is a new moon,' and two round dots that may repre

sent

stars.' Below this are two arrows' crossed and a convolute

or coil which may be a serpent.'

Fig. 142 shows an ear of corn,' nicely cut, and in a depressed circle are three figures, the central one representing a 'deer's leg,' and the others of doubtful interpretation.

As an illustration of the surmises of those who are interested in deciphering such inscriptions we give the following, which is certainly ingenious and even plausible.

It is suggested that the stone commemorates a treaty between two tribes. The reversed arrows in Fig. 141 symbolize peace; the moon and stars the date; the crossed arrows a union of the two forces for aggressive or defensive purposes, etc. The wigwam might indicate the place where the treaty was consummated, and the corn and other emblems the feast by which it was commemorated. It is to be hoped that the stone, or, at least, casts and photographs of it, may find their way into our collection at Salem. — D. J. TAPLEY.

THE BOOMERANG.-The earliest inhabitants of the globe as they spread themselves over the earth, would carry with them the rudiments of culture which they possessed, and we should naturally expect to find that the most primitive arts were, in the first instance, the most widely disseminated. Amongst the primæval weapons of the Australians I have traced the boomerang, and the rudimentary parrying shield — which latter is especially a primitive implement to the Dravidian races of the Indian peninsula and to the ancient Egyptians, and although this is not a circumstance to be relied upon by itself, it is worthy of careful attention in connection with the circumstance that these races have all been traced by Prof. Huxley to the Australoid stock, and that a connection between the Australian and Dravidian languages has been stated to exist by Mr. Morris, the Rev. R. Caldwell, Dr. Bleek, and others.* And here I must ask for one moment to repeat the reply which I have elsewhere given to the objection which has been made to my including these weapons under the same class, "that the Dravidian boomerang does not return like the Australian weapon.” The return flight is not a matter of such primary importance as to constitute a generic difference, if I may use the expression, the utility of the return flight has been greatly exaggerated; it is

* Journal of the Anthropological Institute, No. 1, vol. i, July 1871.