ANCIENT ABORIGINAL TRADE IN NORTH AMERICA. 359 



literally at every step, mixed with morsels of pottery, and here and 

 there a little clay idol."* 



From the centre of the State of Ohio to the country of the Sho- 

 shonees, as well as to the Rio Gila, and the just-described mines in 

 Mexico, the straight distances are almost equal, measuring about seven- 

 teen hundred English miles ; indeed, the Mexican mines are a trifle 

 nearer to Ohio than the above-mentioned districts. It would be lost 

 labor, therefore, to indulge in speculations from which of these locali- 

 ties the obsidian found in Ohio and Tennessee was derived. The num- 

 ber of articles of this stone that has been met east of the Mississippi 

 is so exceedingly small that its technical significance hardly deserves 

 any consideration. Yet, the sole fact of finding worked obsidian at 

 such great distances from the nearest i^laces where it occurs either in 



* Analiuac, p. 99. The following interesting communication was addressed to me by 

 Dr. C. H. Bereudt : 



"During one of many excursions wliicli I made in the years 1853-'56 around the 

 Citlaltepetl, or Pico de Orizaba (in the State of Vera Cruz), I saw an obsidian mine on 

 the western slope of that mountain. I had heard of it from my friend the late Mr. C. 

 Sartorins ,who had visited the place years ago. I was informed that the Indians of the 

 village of Alpatlahua knew the place, but that they did not like to have it visited. 

 Some say they have treasures hidden iu^the caves of the neighborhood ; while others 

 believe that they have idols in those lonely places which they still secretly worship. 

 The cura of San Juan Coscomatepec, who was of this latter opinion, gave me the name 

 of a mestizo farmer in the neighborhood who might be induced to show me the place. 

 Our party followed from Coscomatepec the road which leads to the rancho Jacal and the 

 pass of La Cuchilla. We did not find the mestizo at home, but his wife, who directed 

 her boy to show us the cave. Reaching the bridge of the Jamapa river, we took a 

 by-road parting to the north, which brought us to the village of Alpatlahua, and about 

 four miles farther north to a branch of the Jamaica river, which we crossed. We then 

 left the road and proceeded about half a mile up the river through thick woods, when 

 we found ourselves suddenly before the entrance of the cave. It was about fifty feet 

 high and of considerable width, but obstructed by fallen rocks and shrubs. HeaiJs of 

 obsidian chips of more than a man's height filled the bottom of the grotto, which had 

 apparently no considerable horizontal depth. To the left the mine was seen, an excavation 

 of from six to eight square yards, the bottom filled up w4th rubbish and chips. Obsidian, 

 evidently, had not only been quarried, but also been made into implements at this 

 spot, the latter fact being proved by the occurrence of cores, or nuclei, of all sizes, 

 from which flakes or knives had been detached. We were not prepared for digging, 

 and it was too late for undertaking explorations that day. So we left, with the purpose 

 to return better prepared at another time, hoping to find some relics of the miners 

 and workmen, and, perhaps, other antiquities. Bufc it happened that I never had an 

 opportunity to visit the place again. Mr. Sartorins saw in this cave three entrances 

 walled up with stone and mortar, but these I did not discover, having, as stated, no 

 time for a careful examination. Future travelers, I hope, will be more successful. 



"Mr. Sartorious mentioned another place, likewise in the State of Vera Cruz, where 

 obsidian formerly was quarried. This place is situated in the chain of mountains ex- 

 tending from the Pico de Orizaba to the Cofre de Perote. One of the intervening 

 mountains, called Xalistac, is distinguished by a white spot that can be seen at the 

 distance of many miles, even at Vera Cruz. It is produced by an outcropping of pumice- 

 stone resting on an immense mass of obsidian that has been worked in various places. 

 I know the mountain well, but not the road leading to it, never having traveled in that 

 direction." 



