382 On the Mammoth and the Mastodon. 



ground, of the same kind, probably, with those observed at the 

 Ohio ; they were of a black colour, but very hard, and the shape 

 perfect. A German physician, then with the army at New York, 

 just before its departure, procured and took them all to Europe. 

 Gentlemen of the first character in this country saw them, and 

 declare that they were astonishingly large. The thigh bone in 

 particular, a gentleman measured, and found it thirty-five inches 

 in circumference. 



It is impossible to arrive at the knowledge of the magnitude of 

 an animal from an imperfect skeleton ; but no one can hesitate 

 supposing that the most gigantic quadrupeds at present known 

 are mere pigmies compared to some of the former tenants of our 

 western world ; but of these, perhaps nothing more will ever be 

 discovered than the memorials above related, and the following 

 tradition existing among the natives. It is given in the very termS 

 of a Shawnee Indian, to shew that the impression has been most 



forcible : 



" Ten thousand moons ago, when nought but gloomy forests 

 covered this land of the sleeping sun, long before pale men, with 

 thunder and fire at their command, rushed on the wings of the 

 wind to ruin this garden of nature, when nought but the untamed 

 wanderers of the woods, and men as unrestrained as they were 

 the lords of the soil, a race of animals were in being, huge as the 

 frowning precipice, cruel as the bloody panther, swift as the des- 

 cending eagle, and terrible as the angel of night. The pines crash- 

 ed beneath their feet, and the lake shrunk when they slaked their 

 thirst; the forceful javelin in vain was hurled, and the barbed 

 arrow fell harmless from their side. Forests were laid waste at a 

 meal, the groans of expiring animals were every w^here heard ; 

 and whole villages inhabited by man were destroyed in a moment. 

 The cry of universal distress extended even to the region of peace 

 in the West, and the good spirit interposed to save the unhappy. 

 The forked lightening gleamed all around,, and loudest thunder 

 rocked the globe. The bolts of heaven were hurled upon the 

 cruel destroyers alone, and the mountains echoed with the bellow- 

 ings of death. All were killed except one male, the fiercest of the 

 race, and him even the artillery of the sky assailed in vain. He 

 ascended the highest summit which shades the source of the Mo- 

 nongakela^ and, roaring aloud, bid defiance to every vengeance 

 The red lightening scorched the lofty firs, and rived the knotty 

 oaks, but only glanced upon the enraged monster. At length 



