SOME REMAINS of ANTiqUITY. 203 



The Baron Lahontan, though, in feme refpeas, a cre- 

 dulous writer, may alio be adduced as an authority in 

 favour of the ufe of copper articles among fome of the 

 North-American tribes. This enterprifing traveller was 

 informed, that the Mozeemlek-nation of Indians, refi- 

 ding far weft of the Miffiffipi," made Stuffs, Copper Axes, 

 and feveral other Manu failures." The baron even faw 

 in the poffeffion of a Mozeemlek-flave " a reddifli fort of a 

 Copper Medal hanging upon his Neck." He fays lie " had 

 it melted by Mr. de Ponti's Gun-fmith, who underftood 

 fomething of Metals; but it became thereupon heavier, 

 and deeper coloured, and withal fomewhat tradable. £ 

 defired the Slaves to give me a circumftantial Account of 

 thefe Medals ; and accordingly they gave me to under- 

 ftand, that they are made by the Tahiiglauk, who are 

 excellent Artizans, and put a great Value upon fuch 

 Medals."* 



Among the articles which were found in the tumulus, 

 there was a quantity of ilinglafs, or mica membranacea. 

 It is not eaiy to afcertain with what view this fubftance, 

 fo common in many parts of North- America, was 

 thought worthy of a place in the tumulus, with the body 

 of the deceafed. I cannot learn that this mica is held in 

 fuperftitious efteem by any of the prefent Indians of 



hd'ieni que I'on avoit amenez d' Apalache. II les envoia vers la Dame de 

 Cofaciqui, la fupplier de faire apporter des perles avec de ces metaux blancs 

 &jaunes, dont trafiquoient les Marchands qu' ils avoient fervis ; I'aireuranc 

 que fi elle obligeoit les Efpagnols en cela, elle acheveioit de les combler de 

 fes graces. Cette Dame depecha auffitot de fes fujets querir de ce metal ; 

 & ils raporterent du cuivre d' une couleur tres-dorec, .wee de certains aix 

 blancs, comme de 1' argent, longs & larges d' une aune, epais de trois k quatre 

 doigts, & toutefois tres-legers. Mais qusnd on les manioit ils fe redui- 



foient en poudrc, a la fa^on d' une motte de terre fort leiche lis (the 



Spaniards) fe rejoUirent auffi de voir que plufieurs croioient qu' il y eut 

 de 1' or dans le cuivre ; mais comme ils n' avoient ni eau forte, ni pierre de 

 toychc, ils n' en purent faire 1' eifai." Hiftoire, &c. Tome I. Liv. IV. 

 chap. xiv. p. 270 and 271. 

 * New Voyages to North-America. Vol. I. p. 125 and 126, London: 1735. 

 "^^ our 



