MODES OP BURIAL. 35 



by the ancient inhabitants of these countries, and in the Antiquarian Museum of 

 Edinburgh I saw relics which had been taken from an ancient burial ground near 

 the city, in which the dead were inclosed in rude stone coffins similar to those of 

 the ancient race of Tennessee and Kentucky. I was informed that history threw 

 no light upon the time when the bodies were deposited in the rude stone coffins, 

 and they were referred to an era, at least as old as the Roman Conquest of Britain. 



In looking at the rude stone coffins of Tennessee I have again and again been 

 impressed with the idea, that in some former age this ancient race must have come 

 in contact with Europeans, and derived this mode of burial from them. 



This view is sustained, not only by tlic presence of copper crosses, and of vases 

 with crosses and scalloped circles painted around them, and of bones evidently 

 diseased by syphilis, in the stone graves, but also by certain traditions formerly 

 preserved by tlio surrounding Indian tribes.' 



It will be seen from the subsequent investigations into the contents of the stone 

 graves and mounds of the aborigines of Tennessee and Kentucky^ that, if they 

 were brought in contact with the whites, an amalgamation was formed, that the 

 Indian element preponderated, and that the mixed race retained chiefly its ancient 

 customs and religion 



' See Haywood, pp. 21t-219. 



