Chisels

"A chisel is a cutting implement which is hafted with its long axis continuous with the long axis of the haft. The motive power is supplied sometimes by pressure and sometimes by mallet blows." The above is the definition of a chisel accepted by the conference on terminology alluded to on p. 334. Long, narrow implements are termed tofi by the Sampans, but no accurate information could be obtained as to how they were hafted, or whether a mallet was used. As Samoan carpenters were seen hollowing out bowls with steel chisels and gouges hafted as adzes, it may be inferred that the larger stone implements with fairly parallel sides were also hafted as adzes. Pratt, in his English-Samoan vocabulary (23, p. 90) gives the name for a mallet as samala la'au but, as he also gives samala as the Samoan form of the English word "hammer," it would appear that the Samoans had no old word for mallet. Failing a true Samoan word for mallet, the inference is that the mallet was not used in Samoan woodcraft. The Samoan tofi were therefore probably hafted as adzes, and such as might have been hafted in the same axis as the haft were used with pressure and not with a mallet. Some of the longer ones were probably used with pressure without hafting.

page 365

The smaller implements regarded as chisels in appearance may be grouped into quadrangular, and triangular, and they follow some of the types of adzes. Quadrangular chisels may resemble adzes of Type I in being narrower in front and narrowing towards the poll. A short implement is shown in figure 211. (See Pl. XXXVII, C, 2.)

page 366

A longer quadrangular chisel resembles adzes of Type III, but the back has been ground into three planes towards the bevel. (See figure 212 and Plate XXXVII, C, 3.)

Triangular chisels. Many roughly chipped triangular implements were picked up on house platforms. They had no ground edge and resembled large drill points. One, however, that was partly ground, showed that the median ridge was in front. (See fig. 213, and Pl. XXXVII, C, 4.)

A broken triangular chisel with more grinding indicates a better-worked specimen of the preceding type. With a narrow triangular surface in front, it resembles adzes of Type VII. (See fig. 214, and Pl. XXXVII, C, 5.)

Another broken triangular chisel with a wider front surface at the lower end of a front median ridge, and a straight transverse chin, points to affinity with the adzes of Type VI. (See fig. 215, and Pl. XXXVII, C, 6.)

page 367

A well-ground but broken chisel shows the reverse triangular form with the back median ridge and a triangular bevel, thus forming affinity with adzes of Type VIII. (See fig. 216.)