METALS. MINERALS, FOSSILS. ETC. 287 



inches long, and on the opposite side the figure of a hatchet ; in the middle of all 

 is the bort or bowl to put the tobacco in."* 



The fashion of the pipe here described is that adopted by the modern Indians ; 

 and the paragraph is introduced as suggestive, rather than as indicating the 

 unknown locality of this singular stone. A description of red porphyry is said to 

 occur upon the shores of Lake Superior ; but in the absence of specimens for 

 comparison, it is impossible to say how far it resembles that found in the mounds. 



Many of the ancient carvings are executed in a description of compact slate, of 

 a dull green ground, relieved with stripes of a dark black color, giving the stone a 

 fibrous appearance, and leading many uninformed persons to suppose that it is 

 petrified wood. It has a very fine grain, cuts clearly and readily, and receives a 

 high finish. It seems to have been chiefly used for ornamental purposes. No one 

 has, as yet, been able to identify its primitive locality. A single implement of this 

 material was found a number of years ago, near Middletown, Connecticut. (See 

 page 218.) 



Another variety of stone, of a high specific gravity, dark ground, thickly inter- 

 spersed with minute flakes of salmon-colored mica, is also found. It is not 

 abundant. It has thus far defied scrutiny, and its primitive locality is unascer- 

 tained. It is often very tastefully worked into rings, figures of animals, etc. It 

 cuts without difficulty, and receives a very high pohsh.f 



The axes, pestles, etc., of the mound-builders, like those formerly in use by the 

 Indian tribes, are composed of tough sienitic rocks, greenstone, etc. The 

 material must have been derived from primitive localities, or from boulders of 

 primitive rocks. 



Besides these varieties of stone, we find articles composed of every description 

 of quartz ; of brown hematite ; steatite, black and mottled ; slate ; limestone, etc. 

 Some very pretty articles are worked from coraUine limestone. 



* Du Pratz, History of Louisiana, p. 179. 



f A specimen of this mineral was submitted to James T. Hodge, Esq., of New York, for examination, 

 with the following results : " It resembles mica in appearance, in fine scales, cemented in one lump. 

 Color, reddish brown. Before the blow-pipe it does not change. It fuses with soda, with difficulty, into 

 a dark bead, — soluble in nitric acid, leaving a considerable residuum of siliria. The qualitative analysis 

 gave aliiminn, iron, and putnsh, all of which are ingredients of mica." 



