these remains indicates an origin from the same nation, or from branches of the same people. Although there is some variety to be observed in their form and arrangement, yet certain leading and predominant features distinguish them all; and, from a careful survey, we are urged to the conclusion, that they proceeded from nations possessing similar customs and institutions.

2. Their extent and locality.-These ruins extend over a wide district of territory: commencing in the state of New York, and stretching along the western line of the Alleghanies, at the south they bend eastwardly through Georgia, and are terminated only by the ocean in the southernmost part of Florida. At the west, we find them in great numbers upon the margins of all the western waters, reaching far up towards the sources of the Mississippi, and scattered along the banks of the Missouri and of its branches, and thence down to the Gulf of Mexico and beyond the Red River towards Mexico, whither, although the line has not yet been accurately followed, they can probably be traced. Indeed, Mr. Brackenridge observes, that "the distance from the large mound on the Red river to the nearest in New Spain is not so great, but that they might be considered as existing in the same country.'

It will be perceived, then, that at no point do they touch the Atlantic ocean, except in Florida; that at the north and west, so far as discoveries have been made, they find a limit, and do not approach the colder regions, nor reach to the shores of the Pacific; while, on the other hand, at the south-west they range towards Mexico, and nearly in a direct and unbroken chain of

continuity. That Florida was not the first seat of these nations, whence they were diffused towards the valley of the West, appears from the reflection, that among all nations the first extension of population has been along the shores of rivers and oceans. If Florida had been their first and original position, they would naturally have extended their settlements along the Atlantic frontier; but there we find no indications of their existence, and it would appear to be a just inference to suppose, that the course of migration has been from the great western valleys southwardly into Florida. At the south-west, however, we trace them towards Mexico; thither, then, so far as any indications. exist in their locality and position, are we directed in the investigation of their origin.

3. Their numbers. In the description just given of these ruins, those only have been pointed out which are remarkable for their contents, size, and peculiarity of structure, or which are important in developing the extent and position of the territory occupied by their authors. A vast multitude of others, of a similar character, occur throughout the district whose limits have been indicated, demonstrating beyond a doubt, that the whole of this immense region was in the possession of these nations. The author just quoted, whose accurate personal observations entitle his statements to great weight, in relation to the number of the earthen enclosures or fortifications, remarks, "The traces of them are astonishingly numerous in the western country. I should not exaggerate if I were to say that five thousand might be found, some of them enclosing more than a hundred acres ;" and of the mounds and tumuli, he says that they are much more numerous.* This statement, though * Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc., vol. i. p. 153.

intended to apply to but a portion of the country covered with these ruins, is no less true of the remainder; and when reflecting how many of them must have disappeared in the cultivation. of the soil, without attracting more than a local and temporary attention, and how many may have escaped observation, covered as they are with forests, it is difficult, perhaps, to entertain too exaggerated an idea of the immense population which once crowded this spacious territory.*

4. Their antiquity.-The character of these structures affords one argument for their antiquity; for they are not entrenchments thrown up hastily by migrating hordes, but on the contrary the ruins of cities and temples, some, of the most massive and durable dimensions, and all indicating the existence of a population permanently established. But we are not to suppose that they are all of contemporaneous origin; and for this as well as other reasons, we are compelled to give a superior antiquity to those located in the West: and as we trace the gradual diffusion of population from that quarter, it is apparent how long a period must have elapsed before the structures on the confines of this great empire were erected; add to this the time intervening between their construction and their abandonment, the length of which is left entirely open to conjecture,—for we know not how long these nations flourished,—and the mind is irresistibly led back to a remote date. But even the precise epoch of their desertion lies beyond all direct and positive traditionary

* Professor Rafinesque ascertained upwards of five hundred ancient monuments in the state of Kentucky, and fourteen hundred out of it, most of which he had visited and surveyed personally.-MS. Letter, 1824.

testimony, while certain physical appearances would favor the opinion of its antiquity. Most of these monuments are covered with forests; and while many of the trees, from their vast size and the number of their annular layers of wood, are apparently of great age, the vestiges of decayed wood, and the absence of that uniformity of character peculiar to a recent second growth, demonstrate that several generations of trees have sprung up and disappeared since these works were deserted.

The full force of this argument cannot be more strongly illustrated than by citing the lucid description given by the late President of the manner in which the forests are gradually restored to the soil after its tillage is abandoned. "The process," he remarks," by which nature restores the forest to its original state, after being once cleared, is extremely slow. In our rich lands it is indeed soon covered again with timber; but the character of the growth is entirely different, and continues so through many generations of men. In several places on the Ohio, particularly upon the farm which I occupy, clearings were made in the first settlement, abandoned, and suffered to grow up. Some of them now to be seen, of nearly fifty years growth, have made so little progress toward attaining the appearance of the immediately contiguous forest, as to induce any man of reflection to determine, that at least ten times fifty years would be necessary, before its complete assimilation could be effected. The sites of the ancient works on the Ohio, present precisely the same appearance as the circumjacent forest. You find on them all that beautiful variety of trees, which gives such unrivalled richness to our forests. This is particularly the case on the fifteen acres included within the walls of the work at the mouth of the Great Miami, and the relative proportions of

the different kinds of timber are about the same. The first growth on the same kind of land once cleared, and then abandoned to nature, on the contrary is more homogeneous-often stinted to one or two, or at most three kinds of timber. If the ground has been cultivated, yellow locust in many places will spring up, as thick as garden peas. If it has not been cultivated, the black and white walnut will be the prevailing growth. The rapidity with which these trees grow for a time, smothers the attempt of other kinds to vegetate and grow in their shade. The more thrifty individuals soon overtop the weaker of their own kind, which sicken and die. In this way there is only as many left as the earth will support to maturity." "This state of things will not, however, always continue." "The preference of the soil for its first growth, ceases with its maturity. It admits of no succession upon the principles of legitimacy. The long undisputed masters of the forest, may be thinned by the lightning, the tempests, or by diseases peculiar to themselves; and whenever this is the case, one of the oft-rejected of another family will find, between its decaying roots, shelter and appropriate food, and springing into vigorous growth, will soon push its green foliage to the skies, through the decayed and withering limbs of its blasted and dying adversary; the soil itself yielding it a more liberal support than any scion from the former occupants. It will easily be conceived what a length of time it will require for a denuded tract of land, by a process so slow, again to clothe itself with the amazing variety of foliage which is the characteristic of the forests of this region. Of what immense age then must be those works, so often referred to, covered, as has been supposed by those who have the best opportunity of examining them, with the second growth, after