The hatchet or axe which the Indians call a Tomahawk, is used by them in many different employments. This instrument, in its present form, is said to have been the invention of great William Penn, first proprietor of Pennsylvania. The tools used by the Indians, when he came among them, were made of stone, which were of little use in cutting wood. He procured a tomahawk and scalping knife, and employed European smiths to make such after the Indian pattern, which was accordingly done. The tomahawk was made like a plasterer's hammer, with a whistle in the handle, to give an alarm in case of danger; by this and such like inventions, the name of Penn became famous among them.
The Indians he found much addicted to smoking tobacco; but for want of a better method, they smoked through leaves twisted up into a kind of pipe. Seeing this, he distributed several gross of English tobacco pipes among them, which pleased them for the instant; but unused to such brittle ware, the pipes would not stand their rough usage, but quickly broke, which lost Penn his credit among them, as they concluded themselves defrauded, since pipes so easily broke they esteemed of no service.
Father Penn, as they called him, was hereupon obliged to restore the Indian goods he had received in exchange for the pipes; and was glad to make speedy restitution to prevent bad consequences. He then caused the tomahawk to be made to hold tobacco in the head of it, with a hole drilled through the handle of it to smoke by; an instrument of such beneficial service entirely regained him the confidence of the Indians, and was much more prized than the former, with the whistle at the end. It is now become useful in many branches of their business. In time of war they carry it with them under their belts, and when victory inclines to their side, after firing their guns, they rush upon their enemies with it, fracturing and cleaving their skulls; very seldom failing killing with the first blow. They are also very dexterous in throwing it, and will strike an object at fifty yards distance. They also employ it in cutting wood, and in barking trees, at the season when they make their canoes.
On the handle of the tomahawk they record the occurrences of war. When the warriors are sent to fight, they cut as many notches on the handle of the hatchet to know their number by. Their wounded are also marked down, with the number of prisoners they take from the enemy, each in a different manner; so that, at the close, they are enabled to form an estimate of the success of every expedition. Their tomahawk is also the register of their time: the returns of the moon and remarkable events are therein distinguished, as will appear upon conversing with any of their wise men, who will account for themselves for 6000 moons past.
Aberdeen: Printed by R. Cobbcui $ C5fc
