302 TRAVELS IN THE CONFEDERATION 



they feel none of the oppression of a cringing poverty 

 and have no anxiety as to a maintenance. They seem 

 content and gratify themselves and others by the 

 cleanliness which prevails in their insignificant dwell- 

 ings as well as by their simple dress and behavior. 



Here and there old Indian tombs are found in these 

 mountains. These are merely large heaps of stones, 

 which have arisen through the friendly casting-on of 

 a stone by each Indian passing by. 



We spent the night at a Mr. Elliott's an agreeable 

 man, not without good sense. He had made many 

 journeys deep into the western country and told as an 

 eye-witness, how there are found there ancient graves 

 and ditch-works, often comprising an acre of land. 

 These are at times rectangular, at times oval, their 

 high, steep bulwarks still plainly enough visible. The 

 Indians of those regions know nothing whatever of 

 who made them, their uses, or age. 



Not many years ago a saga of Welch Indians + was 

 spread abroad by certain Canadian travellers. They 

 claimed to have found in the extreme western parts 

 of North America Indian families speaking Welch or 

 Old British, and having a knowledge of the Bible.* 



* Similar reports appeared very recently in the London 

 Chronicle, by which they were taken from a Connecticut 

 journal: "that the American General Parsons had discovered 

 in the western country remains of buildings and fortifications 

 of brick and stone, which prove that these regions must have 

 been once settled by civilized nations, or visited by them 

 before the discovery of Columbus. In the same sheet it is 

 further mentioned that a Mr. Adair who has lived long among 

 the Indians and is familiar with their language, cites many 

 words and forms of speech, particularly the names of their 

 gods, which must be Hebraic. But it is still more remarkable 



