SACRED ENCLOSURES. 103 



enclosed ? It is very obvious that, unless composed of stone or other imperishable 

 material, they must long since have completely disappeared, without leaving a 

 trace of their existence. We find nevertheless, within these enclosures, the altars 

 upon which the ancient people performed their sacrifices. We find also pyra- 

 midal structures, (as at Portsmouth, Marietta, and other places,) which correspond 

 entirely with those of Mexico and Central America, except that, instead of being 

 composed of stone, they are constructed of earth, and instead of broad flights of 

 steps, have graded avenues and spiral pathways leading to their summits. If these 

 pyramidal structures sustained edifices corresponding to those which crowned the 

 Mexican and Central American Teocalli, they were doubtless, in keeping with the 

 comparative rudeness of their builders, composed of wood ; in which case, it would 

 be in vain, at this day, to look for any positive traces of their existence. 



