RELICS FROM THE MOUNDS AND STONE GRAVES. 137 



The singular division of tlie circle into three portions has a slight, and perhaps 

 fanciful resemblance to the representations of the Tae-heih of the Chinese. 



Chinese philosophers speak of the origin of all things, uncfrr tlie name of Tae- 

 heih. This is represented in their books, by a figure, which is formed thus ;^ On 

 the semi-diameter of a given circle, describe a semi-circle, and on the remaining 

 semi-diameter, but on the other side, describe another semi-circle. 



In figure 73, we have a comparative view of the representation of the Chinese 

 Tae-heih (A), and tlie symbolic divisions of the circle by the ancient stone-grave 

 and mound-building race of Tennessee. 



We have already described at length the copper crosses ^'s- '?3- 



evidently worn as pendants from the ears, and also the 

 ear ornaments, composed of hard wood and covered 

 with thin plates of copper discovered in stone graves 

 near Nashville. It is also worthy of note, that frag- 

 ments of what appears to have been a copper plate or 

 mask, much corroded, were found above the fire vessel a. b. 



or altar, in the mound on the banks of the Cumberland ^- cinnese figure Tae-beib 



B. Symbolic divisions of tbe 

 River, opposite Nashville. circle by theancient stone-grave 



The pearl shell and bone beads seem to have been race and moun.i builders of Ten- 



'■ _ nessee. 



used not only as a medium of exchange, and as ornaments, 



but also for the record of historical and sacred facts and ideas. For the accom- 

 plishment of this latter purpose they were arranged and woven into bands and 

 belts, the historical facts and religious ideas being conveyed by the variations of 

 size, color, and arrangement. Many of the beads which I exhumed still retained 

 marks of pigment. The most common substance used was tlie red oxide of iron. 

 The greatest number of beads, as well as the most beautiful and valuable varie- 

 ties, were found in the most carefully constructed graves, which were apparently 

 those of the most distinguished personages.- 



Some of these beads were formed from pearls, others were entire marine shells of 

 the genus Mar<jinella, from the tropical shores, Avliich had been carefully pierced, so 

 as to admit of the passage of a thread or small string ; others were made of the 

 columella of the Stromhus gig(i,s, Fasciolaria gigantea, Busijcon carica, and of other 

 species of the Muriddce ; whilst others were carefully fashioned of bone. 



The flat shells were also carved to represent the human countenance, as in the 

 shell ornament which I removed from the breast of the child, in a stone grave, at 

 the foot of the barial mound, opposite Nashville. 



Figures of these ornaments have already been given in the third chapter. 



Ahoriginal RocJc-painiings. 



The ancient inhabitants of Tennessee have left paintings upon the rocks, some 



representing, possibly, the sun and moon ; and others the bufialo and otlier animals. 



The paintings are executed most generally with red ocJire, upon high, inacessible 



^ The Chinese. A General Description of China and its Inhabitants, by Francis Davis, Esq., vol. 



ii, p. 147. 



18 June, 1876. 



