When completed, it was regarded as a great achievement, and its launching on the waters of the lake or river was celebrated by feasting and dancing.

The artizans were venerated as great patriots.
Possibly the birch-bark canoe was of older date, as being more easily constructed, and needing not the assistance of the axe in forming it; but it was too frail to be used in war, or in long voyages, being liable to injuries.
The black stone wedges, so often found on the borders of our inland waters, were used by the Indians in skinning the deer and bear.

Their arrow-heads were of white or black flint, rudely chipped into shape, and inserted in a cleft stick.

A larger sort were used for killing deer; and blunt wooden ones were used by the children, for shooting birds and small game.
APPENDIX F.
Page 195 .-- _"...

the Christian mind revolts with horror."_ There is, according to the native author, George Copway, a strong feeling in the Indians for conversion and civilization, and a concentration of all the Christianised tribes, now scattered far and wide along the northern banks of the lakes and rivers, into one nation, to be called by one name, and united in one purpose--their general improvement.