nary analogy with similar appearances in Asia and in Central America.*

Ancient inscriptions upon rocks have also been observed. Dr. Barton examined some, on a large stratum of rock upon the east shore of the Ohio, about fifty miles below Pittsburg, and found them in great numbers, and apparently "the work of a people acquainted with the use of iron instruments, or with hardened metallic instruments of some kind."+

Upon one of the branches of the Tennessee river are perpendicular rocks, on which, more than one hundred feet above the present high-water mark, are representations of beasts, birds, and other figures.‡

Near the confluence of the Elk and Kenhawa rivers, in the western part of Virginia, Bishop Madison observed some remarkable remains of sculpture. Upon the surface of a rock of freestone lying on the margin of the river, about twelve feet in length and nine in breadth, he saw the outlines of several figures, cut without relief, except in one instance, and somewhat larger than the life. The depth of the outline was about half an inch, and its width three quarters, nearly, in some places. "In one line, ascending from the part of the rock nearest the river, there is a tortoise; a spread eagle executed with great expression, particularly the head, to which is given a shallow relief; and a child, the outline of which is very well drawn. In a parallel line there are other figures, but among them that of a woman only can be traced these are very indistinct. Upon the side

* It is asserted that similar sculptures have been found elsewhere in Missouri.--N. Am. Review.

† Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. vol. iv. p. 195.

Ib. vol. iii. p. 219.

of the rock there are two awkward figures which particularly caught my attention. One is that of a man, with his arms uplifted and hands spread out, as if engaged in prayer. His head is made to terminate in a point, or rather he has the appearance of something upon the head of a triangular or conical form: near to him is another singular figure, suspended by a cord fastened to his heels." "A turkey, badly executed, with a few other figures, may also be seen. The labor and the perseverance requisite to cut those rude figures in a rock, so hard that steel appeared to make but little impression upon it, must have been great, much more so than making of enclosures in a loose and fertile soil."*

Many metallic remains have also been discovered among the ancient ruins, some quite perfect, and others in a state of decomposition. Copper appears to have been in the most general use. It has been found in the mounds, either in irregular masses or worked into various forms, and sometimes plated with silver. Arrow-heads, bracelets, circular plates or medals, beads, a cross, and pipe-bowls, all composed of this metal, have been disinterred from the tumuli.†

One of the ancient mounds at Marietta, Ohio, was situated on the margin of a stream, which had gradually washed away the surrounding soil and part of the structure itself, when a silver cup was observed in the side of the mound. Its form was extremely simple, and resembled some of the earthenware patterns, being an inverted cone. It consisted of solid silver, its surfaces were smooth and regular, and its interior was finely gilded.‡

* Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. vol. vi. pp. 141, 142.

† Arch. Am. vol. i. p. 224.

Schoolcraft's View, p. 276.

In Salem, Washington county, Ohio, it is said that ancient marks of tools have been observed upon pieces of rock, and that in one mass of stone an iron wedge has been discovered, firmly imbedded.* Except from this instance, and the occasional presence of pieces of oxidized iron in the mounds, we have no evidence showing directly whether this valuable metal was in use. In Liberty, Washington county, Ohio, are the ruins of several stone furnaces, constructed with hearths of clay, and containing pieces of mineral coal and cinders. It has been thought that the purpose of these works was explained by their locality in a rich iron region; but this is the only reason for conjecturing they were used in the manufacture of iron, and one manifestly of slight weight. The wedge of iron found at Salem, in the same county, was probably not of ancient origin; at least, it needs very accurate and close examination before so important a fact can be admitted. Candor seems to demand, notwithstanding the exertions made to establish the use of iron among the authors of the mounds and fortifications, that the supposition is supported by no positive testimony, and by little that is even reasonably conjectural; while at the same time we should be careful, in deciding so interesting a question, to bear in mind that the perishable nature of this metal, when exposed to the atmosphere or moisture, would probably have destroyed all vestiges of its use at the distant period when the mounds were erected.

Circumstances favor the idea, that the authors of the western antiquities were in the habit of working many of the salt springs, for the manufacture of that article. At the state salt-works in

* Delafield's Topographical Description, p. 28.

† Ib. p. 28,

Van Rensselaer's Essay.

Illinois occurs a large excavation, four hundred feet in circumference, in which a deep well has formerly been sunk. In digging at this place, ashes, and fragments of pottery were discovered in great abundance; and a drain has been found, so connected with the works, as to justify the inference of its being intended to carry away the surplus water. The earthenware found here is at vast depths below the surface, and it resembles in composition the specimens occurring in the ancient mounds. At Harrisonville, in St. Clair county, and near the Ohio saline, the presence of broken pottery and other appearances authorize similar conclusions; parrticularly the shape of the vessels, which may very well have served as evaporators.*

The antiquities discovered in the western caves are of a remarkable character, and have excited much speculation. They cannot be ascribed to the present tribes of Indians, in consequence of the very general reverence in which caverns are held by them. They view them with deeply superstitious feelings, esteeming them as the residence of the Great Spirit, and never appearing there for any other purpose, than for the occasional celebration of solemn, religious festivals.† In the saltpetre caves of Gasconade county, Missouri, axes, hammers and other implements have been found, which are probably of identical origin with some ancient works in the vicinity. Below the falls of St. Anthony is another cavern, distinguished for its great length, and called, in the Indian language, "The dwelling of the Great Spirit." The walls are composed of a soft stone, easily yielding to the knife, and they contain many hie

* Beck's Gazetteer, pp. 68, 118.

† Ib. pp. 43, 98, 234.-Carver's Travel's, p. 48.

roglyphical figures, so covered with moss and defaced by time, as to be traced with great difficulty.*

Within the saltpetre cave in Warren county, Tennessee, two bodies have been discovered, interred in a sitting posture in baskets made of cane, the hip joints dislocated, and the legs brought up close to the body. One of them was a male and the other a female. Great care had manifestly been taken to secure them a durable preservation, and at the period of discovery the flesh, teeth, hair and nails were still entire. They were enveloped in dressed deer-skins, and in a species of cloth, of firm texture, woven from the fibres of the nettle, or from bark, and overlaid with the most brilliant feathers of various hues, symmetrically arranged; another covering, of undressed deerskin, succeeded, and the exterior wrapper was cloth of the same kind, but unornamented. The female had a fan in her hand, composed of turkey feathers so disposed, that it might be opened and closed.†

Human bodies have been discovered near the Cumberland river, in the same state; in the nitrous caves near Glasgow, and in the Mammoth Cave, in Kentucky; all placed in the same sitting position, clothed in skins and cloths of various textures, inlaid with feathers—the bodies remaining in a high state of preservation, and the hair generally of a color varying from brown to yellow and red.‡ This last peculiarity has given rise to many fanciful conjectures concerning the race to which

* Carver's Travels, p. 48.

Hayward's Tennessee, vol. ii. p. 163.-Flint's Recollections, p. 173.-Archæologia Americana, vol. i. p. 303.

Medical Repository, vol. xv. p. 187.