790 PAPERS RELATING TO ANTHROPOLOGY. 



It is highly desirable that these interesting relics be analyzed at the 

 mint to discover, if possible, the kind of bnllion of which they are made, 

 and in this way .show if they were made from Spanish or American 

 coins, by the amount of alloy they contained. If from neither, but if 

 composed of pure gold it would tend to show a much more ancient nge 

 for them. 



In concluding this imperfect account of the prehistoric remains found 

 in East Florida, it is proper to state that without doubt other mounds 

 and remains exist undiscovered by me in the districts traversed. The 

 almost impassable nature of a great part of the county, owing to the in- 

 numerable ponds, sloughs, brooks, and rivers, the cane-brakes, and im- 

 penetrable jungles filled with bamboo, grape, and numerous other vines, 

 and tall jialmetto, renders travel on foot, or in any conveyance except 

 a boat, almost impossible. The density and luxuriance of the growth 

 of these tropical forests hedges onein with an impenetrable wall, through 

 which a bird can hardly fly, and in which vision is limited to a few feet 

 around the explorer. 



Of course, in these places it is only by chance the unguided explorer 

 stumbles upon a mound. I am therefore very greatly indebted to the 

 gentlemen I have named for information and for having left their occupa- 

 tion in many cases to act as guides. 



Especially would I mention Mr. James H. Fry, of Pilatka; Frederick 

 Lente, of Lake George ; Mr. White, of Buffalo Bluff; Judge Bartlett, 

 of Georgetown ; Doctor Kenworthy, of Jacksonville ; Mr. Wells, of 

 Nashua ; Mr. Scott, of Barker's Landing ; Aaron Cleveland, C. E., of 

 Merritt's Island ; and Mr. Bradley, of Lake Worth. All evinced great 

 interest in the objects of the expedition. 



In summing up the results of the expedition, the paucity of relics will 

 be remarked. It must, however, be remembered that the object 

 was simply a reconnoissance and not a thorough examination. It 

 was my desire to accurately determine and map the locations of as 

 many stations as possible. It should be observed that between a point 

 about 2 miles north of Pilatka and Lake George these remains are ex- 

 ceedingly numerous, a mound or shell heap occurring at about every 

 half mile of the river. This portion of the State seems to have been 

 much more thickly populated than any other examined. This region is 

 a very fertile one, and is now more thickly populated by white settlers 

 than almost any other. The wonderful accounts from the valley of the 

 Kissimmee, and almost equally wonderful from the Ocklawaha, make an 

 exploration or reconnaissance of these regions desirable. The geo- 

 graphical range and distribution of these people will go far towards 

 clearing up the mystery of their origin and disappearance. Florida has 

 undoubtedly in past ages sustained an immense population, and it is 

 appropriate that the ruins of their cities and their imperishable monu- 

 ments should be j)reserved, and their locations mapjped, as a record of 

 the march of nations. 



