ORNAMENTS OF STONE, ETC. 233 



that a number of quarts of pearls were originally deposited in the mounds referred 

 to ; probably nearly two quarts were contained in a single mound. 



It may be inquired whence these pearls were obtained. Occasional specimens 

 are found in the fresh water molluscs of this region, but they are exceedingly 

 rare. They are very seldom discovered by our indefatigable naturalists on the 

 Scioto, (some of whom annually collect thousands of the living shells,) and are 

 never found of sizes at all comparable to those of the mounds. We know that 

 among the natives of the West Indies, and the tribes of the Gulf, pearls were 

 found in great abundance. Raleigh, Greenville, and others speak of them among 

 the nations on the coasts of Virginia and the Carolinas ; and Soto and Ribaulde 

 observed large quantities among the tribes of Florida. It is a curious fact, that 

 the Indians, observing the eagerness with which Soto's followers sought them, 

 directed him, according to the chronicler, " to search certaine grauves that were 

 in the town, and that he should find man}^ ; and that if he would send to the 

 grauves of these dispeopled towns he might load all his horses ; and they sought 

 the grauves of the town, and there found fourteen rooxes of perles, [three hundred 

 and ninety-two pounds,] and little babies and birds made of them." At another 

 place the chronicler observes, they found " some perles of small valew, spoiled 

 with the fire, which the Indians do string them like beads and weare them about 

 their necks and hand wrists, and they esteem them very much." It is certainly not 

 impossible that the " graves of the deserted towns " were the mounds themselves ; 

 for nothing could possibly be more in opposition to the Indian character, than to 

 direct the hand of the invaders to the tombs of their own dead. An extreme and 

 religious veneration and respect for the " graves of their fathers," universally 

 characterizes the North American tribes.* They have been known to undertake 

 long journeys to visit their ancient burial-places, and there perform the few simple 

 rites enjoined by their superstitions. Such tributes were supposed to be grateful 

 to the spirits of the dead. 



Numerous beads composed of various small marine shells, of the genera margi- 

 nella, oliva, and 7iatica, pierced longitudinally, have been discovered. These are 

 all found upon our Southern and South-western coasts, and in the West Indies. 



Another species of beads found in the mounds, were made from some of the 

 more beautiful varieties of the shells of the unios, so cut and strung as to exhibit 



* " The tombs of the dead," sa3'S Charlevoix, '• are held so sacred in this country, that to violate them 

 is the greatest hostiUty that can be committed against a nation." — Canada, vol. 2, p. 153. 



" Notwithstanding the North American Indians inter the whole riches of the deceased with him, and 

 so make his corpse and the grave heirs to all, they never give tiiem the least disturbance :— even a blood- 

 thirsty enemy will not despoil or disturb the dead." — Adair, p. 178. 



The Indians of the Columbia river, it seems, have less faith in the veneration of their race. They take 

 care to bend the gun barrels, break holes in the vessels, and otherwi-se render valueless the various 

 articles deposited with their dead : therebv removing the temptation to sacrilege. 



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