SCULPTURES. 



249 



have been termed, found, for the most part, in the States of Tennessee and 

 Mississippi. One of these " idols " was discovered some years since, in ploughing 

 upon the Grave creek Flats in Virginia.* It represents a human figure in a 

 squatting attitude, with its elbows drawn back and its hands resting upon its knees. 

 It is thirteen inches high by six inches and a half broad. In material and Avork- 

 manship it is identical with the articles last described, and, like Fig. 148, is 

 distinguished by a crown-tuft or " scalp-lock." There are two orifices com- 

 municating with each other in its back. It was probably designed to serve as 

 a pipe. A stone " idol," destitute however of orifices, was found not long since 

 near the mouth of the Scioto river. It represents a human figure in a squatting 

 attitude, the arms clasped around the knees, upon which the chin is resting. 

 This is the common position of the North American Indians, when seated 

 around the fires in their wigwams. It seems most likely that these rough sculptures 

 have a comparatively recent date, and are the remains of the tribes found in 

 possession of the country by the whites. As works of art thev are immeasurably 

 inferior to the relics from the mounds. 



Fig. 149, This singular specimen of sculpture bears a close resemblance to 

 those above described, but is of much superior workmanship. The features and 

 style of ornament are peculiar. The material is a gray sandstone. It is now 

 deposited in the museum of the Historical Society of New York ; but its history is 

 unknown. It is clearly the original from which the drawing published by Baron 



* See memoir on the Grave creek mound by H. R. ScHooLCRAPr, l^sq., Transnclions of American 

 iH/hnnlDiiical Sociel(/, vol, i. p. 408. The original i.s regarded by that gentleman as furnishino- tano-ible 

 evidence of the existence of idol worship among the North American tribes. Its purposes, whatever thev 

 were, seem to differ but slightly from those to which the ruder articles noticed in the text were applied. 

 The orifices in the back are supposed b.y Mr. Schoolcraft to be designed for the insertion of the thumb 

 ^nd finger in lifting the objcrt. nv for the introdiiction of a thong or cord in transporting or suspendino' it. 



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