2 A N CM E N T M N U M E N T S . 



they occupy the entire basin of the Mississippi and its tributaries, as also tlie fertile 

 plains along the Gulf. 



It is a fact but recently made known, that there are an abundance of small mounds, 

 or tumuli, in the territory of Oregon. We are not informed, however, whether 

 there are any enclosures, or other works of like character with those usually 

 accompanying the mounds of the Mississippi valley, nor whether the mounds of 

 Oregon are generally disseminated over that territory.* That they are of frequent 

 occurrence upon the river Gila, in California, and also upon the tributaries of the 

 Colorado of the West, is also a fact but recently ascertained. Whether these 

 mounds possess features identifying them with those of the Mississippi valley, or 

 indicating a common origin, remains to be decided. 



It is not to be understood that these works are dispersed equally over the area 

 above indicated. They are mainly confined to the valleys of the rivers and large 

 streams, and seldom occur very far back from them. Occasional works are found 

 in the hill or broken country ; but they are not frequent, and are always of small 

 size. 



Although possessing throughout certain general points of resemblance, going to 

 establisii a kindred origin, these works, nevertheless, resolve themselves into three 

 grand geographical divisions, which present, in many respects, striking contrasts, 

 yet so gradually merge into each other, that it is impossible to determine where one 

 series terminates and the other begins. In the region bordering the upper lakes, 

 to a certain extent in Michigan, Iowa, and Missouri, but particularly in Wisconsin, 

 we find a succession of remains, entirely singular in their form, and presenting but 

 slight analogy to any others of which we have an account, in any portion of the 

 globe. The larger proportion of these are structures of earth, bearing the forms of 

 beasts, birds, reptiles, and even of men ; they are frequently of gigantic dimensions, 

 constituting huge basso-relievos upon the face of the country. They are very 

 numerous, and in most cases occur in long and apparently dependent ranges. In 

 connection with them, are found many conical mounds and occasional short fines 

 of embankment, in rare instances forming enclosures. These animal effigies are 

 mainly confined to Wisconsin, and extend across that territory from Fond du Lac, 

 in a south-western direction, ascending the Fox river, and following the general 

 course of Rock and Wisconsin rivers to the Mississippi. They may be much more 

 extensively disseminated ; but it is here only that they have been observed in con- 

 siderable numbers. In Michigan, as also in Iowa and Missouri, similar elevations, 

 of more or less regular outline, are said to occur. They are represented as dis- 



* Tlip only reference we have to the mounds of Oregon is contained in a paragrapli in the Narratiie 

 of the United States Exploring Expedition, vol. iv. p. 313 : 



" We soon reached the Bute Prairies, -which are extensive, and covered with tumuli, or small mounds, 

 at regular distances asunder. As far as I can learn, there is no tradition among the natives concerning 

 them. They are conical mounds, thirty feet in diameter, about six or seven feet above the level, and 

 viany thousands in number. Being anxious to ascertain if they contained any relics, I subsequently visited 

 these prairies, and opened three of the mounds, but found nothing in them but a pavement of round 

 stones.'' 



