INDIAN HISTORY. 23 



hunting and fishing to all, but safe as a home to none — and 

 hence unoccupied. These conclusions are, of course, 

 somewhat conjectural, l>ut are offered in the spirit of scien- 

 tific and historic inquiry, and, in willing (f^iedience to truth, 

 Avill yield when better are offered. 



At such points within the state as uncler the forgoing 

 limitations, would naturally attract an Indian population, 

 Indians are known to have existed ; for certain relics and 

 rude implements of their sort have been found, which settle 

 beyond reasonable doubt the question of occupation. Such 

 relics have been frequently found along the Connecticut 

 and upon the Passump^ic. A well formed hatchet and 

 wedge, believed to have come from a quarry in the state of 

 Maine, were recently found at the confluence of Moose River 

 with the Passumpsic in the town of St. Johnsbur}-. Relics 

 and monuments of a highly interesting and instructive 

 character, have been lately discovered at Swanton, in 

 Franklin County. In this county places have bqen found 

 where Indians evidently finished up their stone implements ; 

 which, taken with the fact that the implements themselves, 

 are of stone not found " in this county, argues that they 

 were brought here in an unfinished state, and finished at 

 leisure ; which further argues the presence of a considerable 

 Indian population, at some remote time never to be ascer- 

 tained or definitely fixed by the research of man. At In- 

 dian Point upon Lake Memphremagog near Newport, it is 

 supposed an Indian village once existed, inasmuch as 

 arrow heads and other relics have there been found ; also a 

 burial place, the bones of Avhich have been Ijrought to view 

 as the lake has washed away its banks. 



To the man who loves the^study of his kind, these relics 

 and remains are fraught with a peculiar interest ; as telling 

 the story of a race of men who, numerous and powerful, 

 less then four centuries ago held' undisputed dominion 

 over this whole continent, but who have now become nearly 

 extinct beneath the restless tread of our aggressive civil- 

 ization. 



Right here is a question for scientific men : why is it, 



