MONUMENTS OF THE NORTH-WEST. 125 



States," presented to Congress in 1840 and published in 1844. These, with a 

 few unsatisfactory notices in the pubhc prints, comprise the only sources of 

 information which we possess; and from them the following facts are mainly 

 derived. 



The field in which these remains occur, so far as observed by the above 

 authorities, is embraced within the lower counties of Wisconsin, and extends 

 from Prairie du Chien on the Mississippi, by the way of the Wisconsin and Rock 

 rivers, eastward towards Fond du Lac on Lake Winnebago, and Milwaukie on 

 Lake Michigan. The country thus indicated is about one hundred and fifty miles 

 in length by fifty in width. The great Indian t^ail or " war path," from Lake 

 Michigan near Milwaukie to the Mississippi above Prairie du Chien, which has 

 for the most part been adopted as the route of the United States military road, 

 passes through this chain of earthworks. They are found in abundance by the 

 sides of this great natural pathway, which has been for ages and must for ever 

 remain the route of communication between the Great Lakes and the Great River. 

 They occur principally in the vicinity of the large water-courses, observing in this 

 respect a marked conformity with the remams of other sections, and are invariably 

 placed above the influence of freshets or inundations. Like those of the Ohio 

 valley, they are seldom found upon hilly or sterile lands, but mainly upon the rich 

 undulating plains, or on the levels corresponding to the alluvions of the Ohio. 



They consist of elevations of earth, of diversified outline and various size, for 

 the most part constituting effigies of beasts, birds, reptiles, and of the human form ; 

 but often circular, quadrangular, and of oblong shape. The circular or conical 

 tumuli differ from those scattered over the whole country in no outward respect, 

 excepting that they are much smaller in their average dimensions ; the largest seldom 

 exceeding fifteen feet in height. Those in the form of parallelograms are sometimes 

 upwards of five hundred feet in length, seldom less than one hundred ; but in height 

 they bear no proportion to their otherwise great dimensions, and may probably 

 be better designated as walls, embankments, or terraces, than mounds. These 

 works are seldom isolated, but generally occur in groups or ranges, sometimes, 

 though not always, placed with apparent design in respect to each other. In these 

 groups may be observed every variety of form, — the circular, quadrangular, and 

 animal-shaped structures occurring in such connection with each other as to fully 

 justify the belief that they are of contemporaneous origin. At first glance, these 

 remains are said to resemble the sites or ground-plans and foundation-lines of build- 

 ings ; and it is not until their entire outline is taken into view, that the impression 

 of an effigy becomes decided. This is not surprising, in view of the fact that they 

 are usually of inconsiderable height, varying from one to four feet ; in a few cases, 

 however, rising as high as six feet. Their outlines are, nevertheless, represented 

 to be distinctly defined in all cases where they occupy favorable positions. Their 

 small altitude should cause no doubt of the fidelity of the representations which 

 have been made of these figures ; since a regular elevation of six inches can be 

 readily traced upon the level prairies and " bottom-lands " of the West, especially 

 when it is covered with turf. The following illustrations, selected from those pre- 

 sented by the authorities above mentioned, will serve to explain the character of 



