SUMMARY OF CORRESPONDENCE. 431 



caches. The dead are wrapped in a robe or blanket, placed in the niche 

 in a sitting posture, with implements and ornaments. Sticks are stuck 

 crosswise at the mouth of the cave, covered up, and the earth heaped in 

 a small mound. The burials are in groups on high bluffs. The women 

 weep daily at the graves for about six months. Once Mr. Allis wit- 

 nessed the burial of a distinguished woman, the wife of a French trader. 

 Something to eat and a bottle of whisky were deposited in the grave. 

 Her favorite horse was choked to death and the tail hung over the mound. 



Banta, W. V. — Furnishes a brief report on mounds in Henry County, 

 Iowa. Further information desired by the Smithsonian Institution. 



Bassett, Leslie. — Describes stone and copper implements from 

 Keokuk County. 



Beaman, D. C. — Explored mounds on the Des Moines Biver, uear 

 Keosauqua, Van Buren County. Account published in Ottumwa Demo- 

 crat. None sent to Smithsonian Institution. 



Cakdee, F. C. — Describes copper implements from one of a group of 

 mounds on the farm of P. Hass, two miles west of Grand view. 



Davis, Henry, and W. A. MacDonald. — Explored mounds in Clay- 

 ton County, on high bluff", overlooking Mississippi Biver, 350 feet above 

 the water, opposite Prairie du Chien, on land of Girard Land Company. 

 On another bluff, one-fourth mile south, are two circular mounds 25 feet 

 in diameter, I feet high; and 70 feet back of them is still another mound. 

 All were evidently for lookouts, as there were no relics in them. 



Evans, Samuel B., Ottumwa. — Sends notes of works in sections 2 

 and 3, township 08 north, range 10 west, fifth principal meridian, near 

 Keosauqua, Van Buren County. Locations, course, and distance ap- 

 proximated. 



No. 1. Shell heaps and pottery. — On south bank of Des Moines Biver, 

 in northeast quarter of southeast quarter section 3, 20 rods north, 55° 

 west, from mouth of Ely's Creek, 20 feet above river bed, 40 feet from 

 water's edge. Found mussel shells in large quantities, pieces of pottery, 

 arrow-heads, bones, part of jaw, teeth, leg and foot bones, &c.j fair 

 degree of preservation. Two feet from mound surface generally. 



No. 2. Mound. — In northeast quarter of southeast quarter section 3, 

 south bank of river, 10 rods north, 00° west from No. 1, on bluff point 

 100 feet above river bed, 200 feet from water's edge ; timber, large white 

 oak, young jack oak. Found human skull entire (except lower jaw), part 

 of an upper jaw, and one tooth ; bones of the leg, &c. Position, two 

 feet from mound surface; head southeast; burial horizontal. Also same 

 pottery as in No. 1. * 



No. 3. Half-moon shaped mound. — Fifteen rods north, 55° west, from 

 No. 2, on same bluff, 120 feet above river bed, 200 feet from water's edge. 

 Found thigh bones. 



No. 4. Mound. — Fifteen rods north, 45° west, from No. 3. No dis- 

 coveries except small piece of crockery, probably modern. 



No. 5. Large mound. — Fifty feet in diameter, 5 feet high, in north- 



