Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-01-31

the art remains partook TO some extent
of the nature of those on Torrey's island.
They seemed to represent sort OF transit
ton from blended Esquimau and Indian
art-possibly Boetuk--to the purely AL
gonquin style Of art and decoration.
EXCELLENT SPECIMENS OF INDIAN ART.
Another important discovery made by
Mr.. Cushing last year was art remains
which he said caused radical change of
his opinion In regard to the character Of
the Indians iDhabiting this region. The
| articles found the first two years were OF
the crudest character, and led to the be-
lief that the Indians of the region we're OF
very low order of intelligence. Last
year, however, many of the articles found
were OF much finer workmanship, and
gave evidence OF very intelligent class
OF Indians.
One particularly fine piece OF workman
ship, and which Mr.. Cushing considered
one Of the most valuable OF his finds, was
calumet, or pipe. "By its decorations"
said Mr.. Cushing, ait is clear that it had
been widely circulated among the Algon-
quin Indians from far down the middle
point. The decorated squares upon one
face OF the calumet indicate the number
Of sanctions which It has received IN
treaties, while the waving lines on the
| other side tell the story OF its trail from
| one tribe to another"
Mr.. Gushing explained that it was the
custom among the Indians when one tribe
wished to make treaty with a neigh
boring tribe, to send the "keeper Of the
pipe", or "keeper OF the wampum" to the
tribe. The smoking Of the pipe by the
tribe with which it was hoped to make a
treaty indicated the sanction OF the
treaty; the marking OF the pipe was fur
Their and more lasting evidence to the
same effect. Heretofore, these markings
were considered purely ornamental, but
in this instance the pipe had continued
in use after 1t had been broken, and
markings on the broken parts seemed
proof OF the theory that the marking OF
the pipe WAS but another method OF in
dicating the sanction OF q treaty. This
is a point on which there has been much
difference OF opinion among paleolog lists,
anu uAE. Suohiuk tucASiokc SOhoiASio VIC
calumet with its important testimony,
one OF the most valuable OF all his finds
in Maine. The fact that the calumet was
used after it was broken also indicates to
his mind that 1t was OF great age, and
reverenced by the tribe.
Another relic highly priced by Mr..
Cushing, and OF Importance to the ethno-
logical world, is a harpoon OF elk horn,
tipped with flint, showing the prehistoric
form OF the harpoon almost identical with
the iron pointed harpoon now used by the
Esquimaux, and heretofore believed to be
of comparatively modern form.
Other fine specimens were a grooved
axe OF perfect form, the first OF its kind
| ever found in this vicinity; ceremonial
war club; cutting knife of flint, used
! by the Indians In cutting hides and skins,
and the prototype OF the present "round-
knife" OF the harness. maker. In fact, as
stated above, MIR. Gushing had thou
sands OF relics, all more or less valua bic,
which when properly classified and la
| belled Will form an interesting addition
| 10 the national museum at Washington.