THE WESTERN COUNTRY. 133 



that long catalogue, which so often tortures human inge- 

 nuity. 



You have often heard of those remarkable fortifications 

 with which the western country abounds; and you know 

 also, how much it has puzzled some of our literati, who sup- 

 posed themselves, no doubt, most profound in historical, geo- 

 graphical and philosophical lore, to give a satisfactory account 

 of such surprising monuments of military labour and art. Some 

 have called to tiuir aid the bold and indefatigable Ferdinand 

 Soto; others, the fabulous Welch Prince of the l'ith, century; 

 and all have made a thousand conjectures, as lifeless as either 

 Soto, or the Prince. Had they first examined into the fact, 

 and endeavoured to settle this most essential pre-requisite, they 

 would soon have seen, that the inquiry might be very easily 

 terminated; and, that what had so greatly excited the admira- 

 tion of the curious, existed only in their own imaginations. No 

 one was more impressed, than myself with the general opinion, 

 that there did exist regular and extensive fortifications, of great 

 antiquity, in many parts of that vast country, which is watered 

 by the various tributary streams of the Ohio, and the Mississippi. 

 The first specimen which I beheld, was examined with an ar- 

 dent curiosity, and with a full conviction, that it was the work 

 of a people, skilled in the means of military defence. The 

 appearance is imposing; the mind seems to acquiesce in the 

 current opinion, and more disposed to join in a fruitless admi- 

 ration, than to question he reality of those fortifications. But, 

 as my observations were extended, and new specimens daily 

 presented themselves, the delusion vanished; 1 became con- 

 vinced, tbat those works were not fortifications, and never had 

 the smallest relation to military defence. The reasons upon 

 whicb this conviction, so contrary to that which has been 

 generally received, was founded, I shall now submit to your 

 consideration. Only, let me first observe, that those supposed 

 fortifications differ as to area and form. Some are found 

 upon the banks of rivers, presenting a semi-ellipse, the greater 

 axis running along the banks: others are nearly circular, re- 

 mote from water, and small; their diameters seldom exceeding 

 forty or fifty yards. The first of these species is the largest; 



