Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-15
RELICS OF THE SAVAGES.
REMAINS FROM THE INDIAN
MOUNDS OF NORTH GEORGIA.

bal Race-A Rare Collection OF Indian
Antiquities, the Life Work of an En-
thusiast.
One of the most interesting and valuable
collections of Indian relics, probably, in
existance anywhere in the South, is in
possession of Mrs. Mary j. McGlashan,
widow of the late John McGlashan, at
her residence on Jones and East Broad
streets. For thirty years before his
death Mr.. McGlashan devoted his entire
time outside of his business to the study
of early Indian history and the collection
of Indian relics and remains. He was
an enthusiast on the subject, and spent
months at time delving into the Indian
mounds in the neighbOrhood of Macon
and in various parts of the State.
room in the modest little home of
Mrs. McGlashan is devoted to the results
of her husbands study and investiga-
tons. The collection which lines its
walls is unfortunately without a cata-
logue, and aside from the knowledge of
the visitor, there is nothing to indicate
the periods of history which it represents
nor the purposes which the hundreds of
curious remains were intended to sub
serve. The collection is particularly rich
in arrow and spear heads, comprising
over 5000 specimens. Every known kind,
form and size made or used by the
Southern aborigines is represented.
The Indians were largely dependant on
the use of the bow and arrow for pro-
visions, and more arrow heads are found
than of any other implement used by
them. The specimens in Mrs. McGlashan's |
collection are made of fints, jasper,
quartz, pellucid crystals, violet and
smoky quartz, and chalcedony. The
forms and tints are exceedingly numer-
GUS and beautiful. The perfect
arrow and spear head of every
size, proportional and polished until
even modern art could do no more, is
embraced in t2e collection. There are
also a large number of incomplete speci-
mems found in places where the manu-
facture Of war implements was carried !
on, the work having been for some reason !
abandoned. 1t is believed that the manu-
facture of spear and arrOw-heads was car
ried on as a trade by the old men. and |
that they were about the first articles of
commerce among the savage tribes. The /
business was considered an honorable |
one, and those who followed it had a free !
passage from tribe to tribe. Most of the |
spear and arrOw-headS were made in |
mountainous and hilly regions. When a /
stock accumulated the makers took them |
to the coast tribes and traded them for |
shells and other articles not found in the |
country occupied by the makers. The |
collection, in this feature, has been pro-
nOunced by experts who have made the /
subject a study the best in Georgia, and |
probably anywhere in the South.
The collection is also rich in axes and /
celts- the ''grOOved" axes are made of /
hard and tough stone, greensboro or di- /
orite being the favorite. They resemble /
the ordinary steel ak of to-day in shape. !
and were made by grinding the material /
on sandstone and other hard substances. !
They are called ''grOOved" axes because |
they have groove around them to hold |
the handle. The ceremonial axes have /
edges on both ends and are shaped like an |
ordinary ak. A hole is drilled RI the |
centre for the handle. Some of them are
perforated with holes, doubtless made to /
string the ak around the neck. They /
are made Of talcOse slate and steatite, !
and are very frail, being evidently not |
made for use, but for ornament, and as /
marks of distinction like the "victory |
stone' of the scandinavian warrior. A !
number of very fine celts are among the /
collection. They are Wedge-shaped, with /
the tops rounded, square, pointed or fiat. /
The cutting edges are rounded or semi |
circular. They are from three inches to a /
foot in length, and were used without |
handles.
The ''maize crushers" or ''triturating |
stones" comprise another important part /
of the collection. They are circular in /
form, with two fiat surfaces, or one fiat /
and the other convex, and can be conYen- /
iently grasped and manipulated with one 1
hand. They are made of diorite, agate .
and flint, and were used as pestles to |
crush Indian corn. Belonging to this /
branch of the collection Is a number of
pestles from to Is inches in length and |
rounded at both ends, used for grinding
corn in mortar. One OF .
the finest specimens is
mortar followed out of a detached block
Of stone, which had doubtless been in use
for many moons, having been worn per-
fectly smooth by the action of the pestle.
Among the collection Of pipes are a
number of extremely large size, which,
no doubt, served as pipes Of peace in the
hands of the fierce and swarthy warriors.
They are of sand and limestone eXca-
waited and reduced to form by friction and
the intervention of sand and water.
A number OF fine discOdal stones used
in game called CbaRgke, in which the
early Indians took deep interest, form
an interesting study. Chltngke was
their great gambling game, and
had about the same effect as
draw-poker has on the average
''sport' of to-day. History tells of many
a poor brave who staked his all on the
game and, having lost, ended his life a
suicide. The stones with which it was
played-a number of which are comprised /
in the cOllectiOn-are circular in shape,
with diameters varying from one to six
inches. They are from One-fOurth to two
and one-half inches thick, and are hol-
lowed out on each side. The game was
started by hurting the stone, and then
hurting spears at it as 1t flew. The one
whose spear was nearest the stone when
it lit, or who struck it, counted.
By far the most interesting feature of
the entire collection are the samples of
Indian pottery. The Southern Indian eX-
celled all other known tribes in the manu-
facture of pottery. Kettles, vases, pots
for holding oil, water anu other purposes
and of the greatest value were made by
them. The pOtter's wheel was unknown
and their pottery was made OF red, blue
and yellow clay, worked by hand and
dried by the fire or in the sun. One of /
the finest specimens is large pot shaped .
like modern kettle and which has EVIL
IDENTIFY been used for cooking. Another
perfect specimen is a flat-bOttomed lar
with very narrow neck, covered with
circular and bead OrnamentatiOns. 1t /
resembles closely a Greek vase. 1t is /
very delicate, and its completion must /
have made glad the heart of the Indian /
woman by whom it was wrought. An
other fine specimen is a small cup made /
of red clay, about the size of teacup,
with a handle on the side and shaped very |
much like the square teacup now consjd- (
cred fashionable. There are a large num- /
Der of other fine specimens in the shape !
of jars, jugs, bowls and pots.
Mr.. McGIashan also devoted much time |
to the collection of petrifie6 wood, Oys- /
tiers and animals repains. He had in /
tended to prepare descriptive catalogue /
of his work, but died suddenly before do /
ing so, and it is Therefore impossible for /
any but an expert to tell the locality |
where many of the most interesting relics /
were found. They all came. however, /
from the Indian mounds in the northern
part of the State.
The collection, from its extent and /
value. has attracted considerable atten- /
ton recentIv, and it is understood that an 1
effort will be made to purchase it either 1
for the Georgia Historical Society or the |
Telfair Academy.
The Marriage Symbol.
Why is marriage a symbol Of strength? /
"Union is strength But if you have