372 Results of Investigations of Indian 3Iounds. 



of the Mississippi a very large number of mounds exist, and are espec- 

 ially numerous in the river counties. I have frequently observed these 

 mounds in Bolivar, Coahoma, Issaquena, and Washington, but my ex- 

 aminations have been confined to a very few, and the data obtained 

 will not admit of any generalization ; I will therefore confine myself to 

 the facts obtained by the investigations. 



In my explorations I observed no works which might be strictly de- 

 nominated enclosures. One very large mound examined in Washing- 

 ton County was about 80 feet in diameter and 40 feet high, in the shape 

 of a truncated cone. The results of the investigation led me to con- 

 clude that this had been a mound of observation. On opening it no 

 relics were discovered ; it was entirely composed of the soil of the coun- 

 try (denominated "buckshot land") ; it is built on the old bank of the 

 Mississippi river, and crowns a conspicuous point which overlooks the 

 surrounding country ; — there are no other mounds in the immediate 

 neighborhood. 



The second mound examined contained a large number of flint (pro- 

 perly "chert") arrow-heads and hatchets; this mound was about 2 feet 

 high and some 15 or 20 feet in diameter. No doubt at one time it was 

 higher, but, being situated in the middle of a field which has been 

 under cultivation for forty years, it has been cut down by the plow. 

 In the neighborhood numerous arrow-heads lie embeded in the soil and 

 arc turned up every spring ; no doubt they all existed at one time in 

 the mound and have been plowed out. 



About 100 yards distant I opened a third mound, with much more 

 satisfactory and interesting results. This mound, though only 11 feet 

 high, is the most prominent piece of land for miles; it stands in the 

 middle of a cultivated field, and from the top one can see over the open 

 ground for a great distance. This mound in general appearance shows 

 great resemblance to the other mounds in that region, and, though the 

 mounds differ in height and diameter, they are nearly all of a flat 

 turncated-cone shape. This mound under discussion was 11 feet high 

 and 30 feet in diameter at the base. The soil composing the mound is 

 identical with that of the country; this soil is principally a clay mixed 

 with a little sand. (See "SUt Analysis of Soils of Mississippi." by E. 

 W. Hilgard, in American Journal of Science and Art.) The mound 

 was formerly covered by a heavy growth of timber, but is now nearly 

 bare, only one tree standing, a very large white oak (Q. alba, L.), 36 

 inches in diameter ; a few steps distant, and near the centre of the 

 top surface of the cone, is the trunk of another oak, 30 inches in diam- 

 eter. 



I commenced investigation by driving an open tunnel, from three 



