THE WESTERN COUNTRY. 139 



Sdly. Because those supposed fortifications, not un frequent- 

 ly lie at the very bottom of a hill, from which stones might be 

 rolled in thousands into every part of them, to the no small 

 annoyance, we may readily conceive, of the besieged. 



4thly. Because, in those works which are remote from a 

 river, or a creek, you find no certain indications of a well ; and 

 yet that water is a very necessary article to a besieged army, 

 will be acknowledged 011 all hands. 



5thly. Because those works are so numerous, that, supposing 

 them to be fortifications, we must believe every inch of that very 

 extensive country in which they are found had been most va- 

 liantly and obstinately disputed. For, upon the Kanhawa, to 

 the extent of 80 or an 100 miles, and also upon many of the 

 rivers which empty their waters into it, there is scarcely a square 

 mile in which you will not meet with several. Indeed they 

 are as thick, and as irregularly dispersed, as you have seen the 

 habitations of farmers, or planters, in a rich and well settled 

 country, but, notwithstanding their frequency, you no where see 

 such advantageous positions selected, as the nature of the ground, 

 and other circumstances would immediately have recommend- 

 ed to the rudest engineer, either for the purpose of opposing 

 inroads, or of giving protection to an army which was too weak 

 to withstand an invading enemy. The union of Elk and Kan- 

 hawa rivers affords a point of defence which could not have 

 escaped the attention of any people; and yet we find no forti- 

 fication at this place, but many dispersed through the low 

 grounds in its vicinity. 



I could add many other reasons; I might observe that some 

 are upon so small a scale, whilst others are upon one so large, 

 as equally to oppose the idea of their being places of defence. 

 It one of 40 or 50 yards in diameter should be deemed too 

 small for a defensive work, what shall we say to that whose 

 outline embraces 50, or even an 100 acres? What tribe of 

 Indians would furnish men sufficient to defend such a breast- 

 work in all its points ? But I believe the reasons assigned, when 

 collectively taken, will be deemed conclusive ; or, as abun- 

 dantly establishing a perfect conviction, that these western en- 

 closures were not designed for fortifications. This was my ob- 



