28 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [nOV. 9, 



wassee Kiver north to Chattanooga, south where it dips below the 

 bed of the Tennessee River. 



The surface of the west side of the inner course of stones is cut 

 into rounded ridges with hollows between, and the characters are 

 raised on the crest of the ridges, and are from two inches to three 

 inches in width, with a few larger groups. 



Mr. J. Hampden Porter says, in a letter from Chatata, October 

 21st: "It is not a wall but a red sandstone ridge, faced with red, 

 slaty, and yellow clays to an unknown depth. No implements and 

 no traces of previous excavations have been found." The faces of 

 the other course of stones are level and not cut into grooves. Be- 

 tween the courses is found a dark-red cement, which is probably 

 formed of red clay with salts carried down by water. 



Mr. Porter says: "As a rule inscriptions are intended to be 

 read I do not remember any instance of a designed con- 

 cealment like this." 



The architect of the Pharos at Alexandria, Egypt, cut his mime 

 on the stone, covered it with plaster, and moulded Pharaoh's name 

 in the covering. Time tore off' the plaster and exposed the builder's 

 name. This concealment in Tennessee may have been effected in a 

 time of invasion or some great social calamity. 



Eight hundred and seventy-two characters have been examined, 

 many of them duplicates, and a few imitations of animal forms, the 

 moon and other objects. Accidental imitation of oriental alphabets 

 are numerous. 



The rock was chiseled in the form of letter intended, a hard 

 cement worked in and raised above the surface, and a cement placed 

 over the whole, against which the outer course of stones was placed, 

 fitting closely. A piece of this covering cement with the letter-form 

 in its surface is engraved here. The bird or other animal is the 

 largest of that kind of figures that is found on the wall. Some of 

 these forms recall those on the Dighton Rock, and may belong to 

 the same age. How many other hidden inscriptions there may be 

 in this, the geologically oldest continent, it is impossible to say but 

 delightful to conjecture. This wall would be a valuable and in- 

 teresting addition to the Metropolitan Museum. 



Considerable discussion followed the reading of this paper, and 

 was participated in by Drs. Julien and Bolton, and Prof. Martin 

 and others. 



Prof. D. S. Martin spoke at some length upon the features of 

 peculiar interest connected with the series of scientific meetings 

 held during August, 1891, at Washington, particularly the Inter- 

 national Geological Congress. He described in outline the general 

 plans and arrangements for the session and the topics that were 

 discussed on the several days. The exhibition of geological 

 material and literature was referred to and some of its leading 

 features specified; among these, the great display made by the 



