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The Stone Implements of the Maori

Long and Narrow Form

page 276

Long and Narrow Form

The long narrow form of adze is not very common, but some good specimens have been found. As in some other cases of somewhat uncommon types, this shape merges gradually into others more common, such as a short narrow form. The best illustration of this type in the Museum is a specimen 15 in. long, and but 2 in. wide on the face, and 1¾ in. on the back (see Fig. 60, Plate XII). The sides are practically parallel, narrowing very slightly at the butt end to a width of 1¾ in. at the poll. The angle of the blade-bevel is about 30° to 40°, and the material is a dark-green mudstone with veins and crystals. The blade and face are well ground to a smooth surface, the latter showing longitudinal striae, from having been rubbed lengthwise on the grinding-stone. The grinding of the sides and back has not been completed, some of the fractured surfaces not having been ground out. Such hollow spaces are not deep, however, the lines of cleavage left by the blocking-out process being unusually straight. The sides and back are straight and flat, the face somewhat convex both longitudinally and transversely. The asperities of the poll have been removed by a partial grinding of the same. Weight, 3¾ lb. It is difficult to conceive why an adze should be made in this shape. It may have been used for the purpose of hollowing out deep cavities in timber, with or without the help of fire. The specimen is an interesting one on account of its great length in proportion to its width and thickness, the latter being 1⅜ in. A slight chamfering is noted on the two edges of the face.

In Fig. 61, Plate XVII, we see a shorter type of the long narrow form. It is made of aphanite, and shows a length of 10 in., a width of 1¾ in. at the shoulder and of 1⅜ in. at the butt end, the thickness being 1½ in. along the central part. The butt end has been worked down for 2¾ in. on the face and sides, in order to accommodate the lashing. The back is almost straight and flat, but the face is convex longitudinally and much rounded transversely. A cross-section would be semicircular, save at the part near the blade. The blade only has been ground smooth. The rounded form is evidently due to deep hollows formed in the blocking-out of the tool. The cutting-edge is curved, and the lower part of the blade hollowed slightly in gouge-form. Weight, 1 7/8 lb. Angle of blade, 40° to 50°.

Another unfinished specimen is shown in Fig. 62, Plate XVII, which is 10 in. long, 2⅝ in. wide at the cutting-edge, whence it tapers off to 1⅝ in. at the poll. The thickness is 1 in., save at the butt end, where it is much reduced by unskilful chipping forming a deep hollow. A shallower hollow in the centre of the back has been partially page 277smoothed by rubbing the tool sideways on the grinding-stone. Weight, 1½ lb. Material, basalt. Blade-angle, 30° to 40°.

There are also some good specimens of this long narrow form in the exhibition cases in the Museum. One lately received from Southland is 15¾ in. long, and weighs 7 lb. It is of the thick type— that is, widest in the middle, and narrows toward each end. The cutting-edge is 1⅝ in. wide, and the butt end 1⅞ in. The width of the face across the middle is 2⅛ in., and of the back 1⅞ in.; but the tool is wider in the centre, the sides being markedly convex transversely. This large specimen is 2¾ in. thick at the shoulder, whence it decreases in thickness toward the poll. The face is convex both ways, the back is slightly convex longitudinally and flat transversely. The face has been worked down deeply, and the sides slightly, for 4 in. from the poll, leaving a prominent transverse shoulder across the tool, which shoulder is accentuated or heightened by a slightly raised transverse ridge, such as is described elsewhere. The whole tool has been well and carefully formed and rough-ground, but the blade only is polished. The bevel on the back to form the blade is 5¼ in. long, and the angle of inclination about 40°. This long bevel is concave transversely, a very unusual feature, but which was presumably caused by rubbing it on a convex surface of the grinding-stone. It was probably not intentional, and had no utility, as it has not been continued down to the cutting-edge. At the top of this bevel is a slight transverse ridge, similar to the one described as being on the butt-end shoulder. The latter would accommodate a heavy lashing.

Another fine specimen of the long narrow type, also from Southland, is seen in Fig. 63, Plates XIII and XIIIA, which is 16½ in. long, and weighs 6¼ lb. It is symmetrical, well formed, and of even surface, but the processes of grinding and polishing have not been completed, except on the face. It is 2⅜ in. wide at the cutting-edge, 2⅝ in. at the shoulder-line, and 1½ in. at the butt end. Thickness in middle, 2¼ in. The back (see Plate XIII) is much narrower than the face. The face is of the usual convex form longitudinally, and markedly so transversely. The butt end of the face, and its edges, have been worked down to receive the lashing. The back is flat transversely, and also longitudinally for 5 in. back from the shoulder, from which point it slopes downward to the narrow poll. The sides are convex transversely, and slightly so longitudinally. The bevel on the back to form the cutting-blade is 6 in. long, an unusual length, and its angle of inclination is about 35° near cutting-edge, but only 20° higher up the blade. At the top of this blade-bevel is a transverse ridge, such as is described elsewhere, and the utility of which is extremely doubtful.

page 278

The cutting-edge is much curved, and the blade almost flat transversely. The stone is basalt.

Plate XIIIa shows the side view of Figs. 63, 64, and 66.

Another specimen (Fig. 64, Plates XIII and XIIIa) of very similar form is also of basalt, and is 14 in. long, and weighs 5 lb. It is 2 in. wide across the cutting-edge, 2¼ in. at the shoulder-line (in the centre), whence it narrows to 1⅝ in. at the poll. Thickness at the shoulder, including a transverse ridge at the top of the blade-bevel, 2¼ in., narrowing to 2 in. at the butt shoulder. The face is convex longitudinally, the curve being unusually great at the blade end; also much curved transversely, being worked down for 3 in. at the butt end for the lashing, leaving a shoulder carrying a supplementary ridge, as obtains in some other specimens. The back is of the same form as that of the last specimen described, except that it is convex transversely. The sides (see Plate XIIIA) are just the same as in the last one. The bevel on the back of the blade is 5¼ in. long, and almost flat transversely, having a prominent transverse ridge at the shoulder. This specimen is of truly even surface, and the blade has been polished. The cutting-edge is curved, and also convex transversely on the face to a considerable extent. These two curves are often noted in these stone adzes, and would result in a slightly hollowed surface on the part of a timber adzed with them. This transverse convexity of the blade-face may also be seen in steel adzes. The longitudinal edges of this tool are much rounded.

Our next specimen (Fig. 65, Plate XII) is an unusually thin one, of the long narrow type. It is 13½ in. long, yet weighs but 2¾ lb. It is 2⅜ in. wide at the cutting-edge, and 2½ in. at 1 in. from that edge, from which part it decreases in width very gradually back to 2 in. at the butt shoulder. Its thickest part is near the aforesaid shoulder, an unusual occurrence, from which it decreases very gradually in thickness toward the cutting-edge. Thickness in middle, 1¼ in. The face is convex longitudinally, and notably so transversely, while for 3 in. at the butt end the face and corners have been reduced for the reception of the lashing, leaving a prominent transverse shoulder, on which is a slight supplementary ridge. The back is somewhat concave, also a rare form, and much flatter transversely than the face. The sides are slightly convex longitudinally, and in no part wider than ⅝ in., owing to the marked transverse convexity of the face caused by the reduction of its longitudinal edges. This implement is one of an interesting type. The blade has no shoulder on face or back. This tool has been ground smooth, but the cutting-edge is somewhat gapped. The page 279blade is unusually thin. The material is a fine-grained sandstone of a peculiar green colour.

Our next long specimen (Fig. 66, Plates XIII and XIIIa) is one made of andesite, of unusual thickness, a complete contrast to the last in this respect. It is 15¼ in. long, and weighs 7¼ lb., a very heavy tool. Presumably such an implement would only be used for heavy work, wherein strength and weight were advantageous. It is 2½ in. wide across the cutting-edge, but 2¾ in. a short distance from it, across the face, which width the face carries for some 5 in., whence it narrows to 2 3/16 in. at the butt shoulder and to 1¾ in. at the poll. The sides being sloping, it follows that the back is narrower than the face, being 2⅜ in. just behind the blade-shoulder, thence narrowing evenly toward the poll. The back is very slightly concave longitudinally, and flat transversely. The face is convex both ways. (For face view, see Plate XIII.) The thickness of this huge adze is 2⅜ in. just behind the blade-shoulder, 2⅛ in. at the butt shoulder, but a full 2½ in. at the blade-shoulder, which carries a very prominent transverse ridge. The back is unusually flat both ways, and the butt end of the face and its edges have been worked down for 4 in. to a depth of fully ½ in. This gives a good grip for the lashing, the shoulder of this reduction being so prominent, and there is also a small shoulder across the poll, so that the lashing would be confined between two shoulders. The blade of this tool is 4½ in. long, and has an angle of inclination of about 50° at the cutting-edge, which is reduced to 35° higher up the blade. At the top of the bevel on the back of the blade is a prominent, curved, transverse ridge. This implement has been polished, except on the back, the surface of which, however, is remarkably even and well ground. The specimen is an interesting one, on account of its size, weight, and form. Its longitiudinal edges are sharp and almost rectangular.

We have one specimen (Fig. 67, Plate XII) to submit of a rare type, of the long narrow form of adze, inasmuch as it is of a fine quality of nephrite, and, in its length, narrowness, and thickness of blade and body, unlike any other nephrite implement in the whole range of the Museum collection. It is slightly over 12 in. long, and weighs 1¾ lb. Width, 1⅝ in. at the cutting-edge, and 1¼ in. at the butt end across the face; though the back is narrower, being 1 5/16; in. across the shoulder and 1 1/16 in. across the butt end. It will thus be seen that the sides, though somewhat convergent toward the poll, are yet not far from being parallel. The thickness of this unique specimen of nephrite adzes is 1⅛ in. at the shoulder-line, in the middle, though ⅛ in. less at the sides, on account of the trans-page 280verse convexity of the face. The face is markedly convex in both directions, but more especially transversely, though all four longitudinal edges are sharply defined. The cutting-edge is fully ½ in. off, or lower than, the plane of the axial centre of the adze, which means a very pronounced longitudinal curve on the blade-end. A cross-section would show the face as segmental in outline, so true and pronounced is its transverse convexity, not, as is often the case, being produced by a mere rounding-off of the longitudinal edges. Inasmuch as the shoulder on the back is a high bold one, produced by an upward sweep of the back from a point 3 in. behind the shoulder, it follows that the back is longitudinally concave, save for about 3 in. at the butt end, where it falls away to the poll. The back is slightly convex transversely. The sides are fairly straight, but not truly so. Their inward slope also is of various angles, which somewhat mars the appearance of the specimen to the hypercritical eye. This somewhat uneven appearance of the sides is caused by the grinding thereof not having been finished, the grooves by which the piece was severed from the block of stone being only partially ground out. They are only just visible on one side, but on the other they are still clearly defined, though the fracture-ridge, which must have been nearly ½ in. wide in the middle of the cut, has been much ground down. The poll still shows the rough fracture, and is quite unworked. Otherwise the adze is well ground, and carries a fine, smooth, polished surface. The blade is exceedingly thick for a nephrite implement, the abrupt bevel from shoulder to cutting-edge being but 1½ in. long, while the angle of the blade near the cutting-edge is 50°, though only 40° in its upper part. Long years ago the native owner of this fine item was wont to carry it in a deep narrow pocket made for its reception, and would produce and flourish it in the face of a would-be possessor whenever he met him.

The Museum contains a cast of a long and rather narrow axe that, to judge from the cast, is in an unfinished state (see Fig. 68, Plate XII). The tool seems to have been chipped and pecked into form, but not ground. The length is 16 in. Width across cutting-edge, 3⅛ in.; across poll. 1⅝ in. Thickness, 1½ in. The face is very slightly wider than the back. The face is slightly concave longitudinally from the cutting-edge to a point 4¼ in. from the poll, for which latter distance the face and edges of the butt end have been worked down in order to provide a good grip for the lashing. This unwonted fact of there being no longitudinal curve to take the place of a bevel or facet on the blade end of the face is evidently caused by the tool being yet unground. When ground, the front part of the blade, on the face near the cutting-edge, would be ground down in order to page 281give it the necessary curve. The poll of this tool is quite flat, a form not commonly seen, and which would probably be modified by grinding. The back is slightly concave longitudinally, and a little convex transversely. The sides are straight, and edges well defined. The blade is 3½ in. long, and decidedly thin. The angle of inclination is 50° near the cutting-edge, but only about 20° on the upper part of the blade. Doubtless this aspect would be somewhat modified in the grinding. It may have been a toki tahitahi, as described by Mr. Knocks.

In the collection made by Mr. A. H. Turnbull, of Wellington, there are several items of interest of this form of stone implements. One of these items is a specimen 14½ in. long, 2¼ in. wide across the cutting-edge, 2⅝ in. across the middle, and 1¾ in. across the poll. Like most of these stone forms, it is widest at its axial centre, on account of the transverse convexity of the sides. The face is convex both ways, and has been worked down deeply for a distance of 4¾ in. from the poll on the face and edges, leaving a prominent shoulder. As is usual, the reduced butt end narrows somewhat toward the poll. The implement is ground and polished on the face and blade; the rest has a roughened appearance, albeit true and even, the smooth polish only being lacking. The back is straight and flat both ways from the poll to the ridged shoulder, but is narrower than the face. The sides are slightly convex longitudinally, and markedly so transversely. The poll is rounded. Thickness, 2¾ in. at the shoulder, including the transverse ridge; and 2 5/16 in. just behind the shoulder and as far as the butt shoulder. Length of blade-bevel on back, 5¾ in., its shoulder bearing a straight and prominent supplementary ridge. The angle of inclination of the blade is 45° near the cutting-edge, but only 20° on its upper part. The sides converge somewhat both ways from the shoulder-line.

A curious form in the same collection resembles one already described, and which is in the Dominion Museum. The former is 11½ in. long, 1¾ in. wide across the curved cutting-edge, which soon increases to 2 in., then converges gradually to 1¼ in. near the much rounded and ground poll. The face is convex longitudinally and much rounded transversely. Across the face, at 3 in. from the poll, is a prominent transverse ridge (not a shoulder caused by a reduction of the butt end of the face), presumably formed in order to prevent the adze from being driven upward under the lashing when in use. Why this should not have been prevented by forming a shoulder on the foot of the handle, against which to place the poll of the adze when it was being lashed on, it is difficult to say, but such a shoulder does not seem to have been generally used. Between the ridge and page 282poll, the face, edges, and sides have been much rounded off. So far, this is the only specimen in which it has been noted that all four of the longitudinal edges at the butt end have been rounded off to such an extent. As a rule, the two edges bounding the back of the butt end are not so rounded, or to but a very limited extent. The back of this tool has a flat aspect. It is slightly concave longitudinally. In side view the specimen has a somewhat curved appearance. The sides are straight longitudinally, except for the part worked down at the butt end, and a slight convergence at the blade end, and are flat transversely, though very narrow—a scant ½ in. at the widest part—owing to the excessive rounding-off of the longitudinal edges of the face. This is a very thin tool, and could not have been used for anything but light work, being only 11/16 in. thick 2 in. from the cutting-edge, ⅞ in. in the middle, and 1 in. a short distance from the poll— a most unusual series of measurements. The thickness of the axial centre is represented by these figures; the sides are much thinner. The thickest part is at the transverse ridge, which gives 1 5/16 in. The blade-bevel on the back is only ½ in. long. This tool has been ground, but has not been polished all over. The cutting-edge is curved, and the lower part of the blade carries an angle of 45°, the upper part 30°. This tool was probably used for light finishing-work.

In Fig. 68a, Plate XXIV (taken from the cast), we have a long narrow form that possesses several peculiarities. The cutting-edge is practically in the axial centre of the tool, although it was certainly hafted and used as an adze. Also, the butt end shows not only a butt shoulder, but also a transverse ridge in the middle of the worked-down part; hence the lashing should secure a very firm grip, doubtless an essential point in hafting so long and narrow an implement. This item is 11¼ in. long, l⅛ in. wide across the cutting-edge, 1⅞ in. across the middle, and 1⅛ in. across the poll. Thickness, 1⅝ in. in the middle. The face is markedly convex both ways, and the back shows no true shoulder to mark the limit of the blade-bevel, though a slight supplementary ridge is situated 5 in. back from the cutting-edge. The tool appears to be adapted for cutting a deep groove, The face is somewhat wider than the back. Apparently the original was ground all over.