234 



ANCIENT MONUMENTS. 



the convex surface and pearly nacre oi" the shell. These must have tornied very 

 tasteful ornaments. Some neck ornaments identical in form and appearance with 

 these were obtained by the Exploring Expedition, from Paumotou in the Pacific ; 

 they are made of mother of pearl. 



Other beads are composed of sections of the small bones of birds. Similar 

 ornaments are common among the Indians to the west of the Mississippi, and 

 have been observed among the natives of the Caribbean islands. 



In addition to these several varieties of neck ornaments, may be enumerated 

 the perforated canine teeth of certain animals, the wild cat, wo.'f, and bear ; also, 

 the teeth of the shark and the alligator, and the claws of animals. The latter, 

 separated from the foot at the first articulation, have been found in considerable 

 numbers. Fig. 131 presents examples ofthe.se varieties. Some large imperforate 



teeth of animals have been found with skeletons in such positions as to favor the 

 conclusion that they were inserted into the lobes of the ear. No. 5 of the cut 

 is an example. Several large fossil teeth of the shark, some of them perforated, 

 have also been obtained from the mounds, and will be noticed, together with other 

 singular remains of like character, under the head of " Fossils and Miiierals from 

 the Mounds.'''' These relics were perhaps worn as amulets or charms.* 



A very tasteful variety of enamelled beads is frequently found upon the surface or 

 with the recent deposits in the mounds. They are very erroneously supposed by 

 some to have pertained to the race of the mounds ; so far is this from being the 

 case, that they are all clearly of European origin. The early voyagers availed 

 themselves, for purposes of traffic with the Indians, of their love of ornament, 



* " Amulets and heck and oar ornaments constituted a very ancient and important department in tlie 

 arcanum of the Indian's wardrobe. Tiiey were connected with liis superstitions, and were part of the 

 external system of his religion. The aboriginal man who had never laid aside his oriental notions of 

 necromancy, and believed firmly in witchcraft, wore them as charms. They were among the most 

 cherished and valued articles he could possiblv possess. Thev were sought with great avidity, at high 

 prices, and, after having served their purposes of warding oft' evil while he lived, were deposited in his 

 grave at his death. Bones, shells, carved stones, gems, claws and hoofs of animals, feathers of carnivo- 

 rous birds, and above all the sliins of serpents, were clierished with the utmost care and regarded with 

 the most superstitious veneration. To be decked with suitable amulets, was to him to be invested with a 

 charmed life. They added to his feeling of security and satisfaction in liis daily avocations, and gave him 

 new courage in war." — Srhixilrrdfl'.s Notes nn llir Tniqimis. p. 226. 



