300 A N CM E N T MONUMENTS. 



head cut in outline, upon the vertical face of a large rock extending into the river. 

 It is always under water, except when the river is at its very lowest stages, and 

 is not exposed oftener than once in four or five years. It is familiarly known as 

 the " Indian's Head," and is regarded as a sort of river guage or meter. When 

 the water-line is at the top of the head, the river is considered very low. 



Numerous other rocks of similar character are scattered over the West, occur- 

 ring chiefly upon or near the banks of streams. They are not however confined 

 to the westward of the Alleghanies, but are found in several of the Atlantic States. 

 Those at Dighton and Tiverton in Massachusetts, and at Portsmouth in Rhode 

 Island, are well known examples. They do not seem to diflfer materially in cha- 

 racter from those already described. 



From an inspection and comparison of these rocks, it must be very apparent 

 that they are all the work of the same race : there is a family likeness in their 

 style and workmanship, and a coincidence in position, which admits of no dispute, 

 and seems to be conclusive upon this point. The further well known fact that the 

 Indians possessed a system of representation, not inappropriately termed picture- 

 writing, by which they conveyed intelligence and recorded events, serves still 

 more clearly to indicate their probable origin, — especially as it is equally well 

 known that they carved their rude pictures upon rocks as well as upon the bark 

 of trees. 



