108 CAMPS IN THE CARIBBEES. 



ered with incised figures, which are undoubtedly of 

 great antiquity, and the lines or grooves are so nearly 

 obliterated that I will not hazard a guess as to their 

 meaning. The central figure, however, a face en- 

 closed in a triangle, seems to resemble rude aboriginal 

 representations of the sun. It is conjectured that this 

 was a sacrificial stone used by the Caribs, or their 

 predecessors, the Arowaks ; and this statement would 

 seem to be confirmed by the various channels leading 

 from the attendant satellites to the central figure. The 

 rock at present lies with its face slanting to the south- 

 west, owing to the excavation of the earth beneath it 

 by a small stream that runs near. A few miles below 

 is another and smaller rock, having carved upon it 

 a face surrounded by scroll-work. In the island of 

 Guadeloupe is a large rock having upon it a figure 

 of more intricate design ; and it is said that there are 

 sculptured rocks in the island of St. John, one of the 

 Virgin Islands. Owing to the rugged conformation 

 of the islands chosen as their home, it is not possible 

 to discover such evidences of their handiwork as in 

 islands of more level surface. 



As the only remaining Indians between the con- 

 tinent of South America and North America, be- 

 tween Guiana and Florida, these Caribs possess an 

 interest attaching to no other tribe living. Having 

 visited the southernmost resident Indians in the United 

 States, the Seminoles, offshoots from the Creeks, I 

 was enabled to note more intelligently the differences 

 between the two tribes; and, aside from these and 

 other reasons, I do not think the Caribs ever reached 

 the continent of North America. This statement may 

 be met with the counter one that the Seminoles, at 



