228 



ANCIENT MONUMENTS. 



They are always carved from a single piece, and consist of a flat curved base, ot 

 variable length and width, with tlii^ bowl rising from the centre of the convex side. 

 FVom one of the ends, and communicating with the hollow of the bowl, is drilled a 

 small hole, which answers the purpose of a tube ; the corresponding opposite divi- 

 sion being left for the manifest purpose of holding the implement to the mouth. 

 The specimen above represented is finely carved from a beautiful variety of brow n 

 porpj^ry, granulated with variously colored materials, — the whole nmch changed 

 by the action of fire, and somewhat resembling porcelain. It is intensely iiard, 

 and successfully resists the edge of the finest tempered knife. The length of the 

 base is five inches, breadth of the same one inch and a quarter. The bowl is one 

 inch and a quarter high, slightly tapering upwards, but llaring near the top. The 

 hollow of the bowl is six tenths of an inch in diameter. The perforation answering 

 to the tube is one sixth of an inch in diameter, which is about the usual size. 

 This circumstance places it beyond doubt that the mouth was applied directly to 

 the implement, without the intervention of a tube of wood or metal. It will i)e 

 observed that it is ornamented with cup-shaped holes, an eighth of an inch broad 

 and about the same depth. Seven of these arc placed in a circle upon each side 

 of the bowl, which has a line of them extending spirally around it. 



Fig. 127 is another pipe of a coarse-grained granite. It 



was not found in the mounds, but was turned up by the plough? 



in the vicinity of one of the large enclosures on the banks of 



Paint creek. It is quite unlike those figured above in shape, 



and perhaps belonged to a later race. 



Such is the general form of these implements. The largest 

 proportion of those which have been found in the mounds, 

 however, are of much more elaborate workmanship. Their 

 character has been briefly noticed on a previous page. (See 

 page 1.j2.) They are sculptured into singular devices — 

 figures of the human head, and of various beasts, birds, and 

 reptiles. These figures are all executed in miniature, but with a strict fidelity to 

 nature. The attitudes of the animals are characteristic ; their very habits, in some 

 cases, are indicated. Most are worked in porphyry ; and all display a trutlilulness, 

 delicacy, and finish, which we are unprepared to look for, except among the remains 

 of a people considerably advanced in the arts. Some of them represent animals 

 peculiar to the lower latitudes. Indeed, so remarkable in many respects are 

 they regarded, in their bearing upon some of the more important questions 

 connected with American archa;ology, particularly the migrations of the race of 

 the mounds, that their full consideration is reserved for another place. They will 

 be noticed at length, in connection with similar remains, under the more appro- 

 priate head of " Sriiljjtiirr.s.''^ 



iJfsides these varieties of pipes, numerous others are found, most of which are 

 pi'obably referable to a comparatively rec(Mit era. They diller in style Irom those 

 found ill llif iiiouimIs. jiikI ;iir for tlic greater part composed of steatites and other 

 soft and easilv worked \arieties oj slone. Some are ol large si/e. and are bt>ldl\ 



