mounds so fills the mind of the
Archaeologist with joy as that of copper implements. Copper mining has
now by the discovery in the Lake Superior region, of mining shafts
long deserted, in which copper was quarried by stone hammers on a
large scale, been shown to have been pursued in very ancient times on
this continent. It is of intense interest for us to know that not only
are there mines found on the south side of Lake Superior, but also at
Isle Royale, on the north side just at the opening of Thunder Bay, and
immediately contiguous to the Grand Portage, where the canoe route to
Rainy River, so late as our own century, started from Lake Superior.
According to the American Geologists the traces for a mile are found
of an old copper mine on this Island. One of the pits opened showed
that the excavation had been made in the solid rock to the depth of
nine feet, the walls being perfectly smooth. A vein of native copper
eighteen inches thick was discovered at the bottom. Here is found
also, unless I am much mistaken, the mining location whence the
Takawgamis of Rainy River obtained their copper implements. Two copper
implements are in our possession, one found by Mr. E. McColl in the
grand mound, and the other by Mr. Alexander Baker in a small mound
adjoining this.

(_a_.) _Copper Needle or Drill_. (See A. Fig. 1.) This was plainly
used for some piercing or boring purpose. It is hard, yields with
difficulty to the knife, and is considered by some to have been
tempered. It may have been for drilling out soft stone implements, or
was probably used for piercing as a needle soft fabrics of bark and
the like, which were being sewed together.

(_b_.) _Copper Cutting Knife_. (See E. Fig. 1.) This, has evidently
been fastened into a wooden handle. It may have been used for cutting
leather, being in the shape of a saddler's knife, or was perhaps more
suited for scraping the hides and skins of animals being prepared for
use.

Some twenty miles above the mound on the Rainy River at Fort Frances a
copper chisel buried in the earth was found by Mr. Pither, then H. B.
Company agent, and was given by him to the late Governor McTavish. The
chisel was ten inches long, was well tempered, and was a good cutting
instrument. Another copper implement is in the possession of our
Society, which was found buried in the earth 100 miles west of Red
River.

All these, I take it, were made from copper obtained from Isle Royale
on Lake Superior.