5i6 MEMOIR ON 



unknown : and as two of thofe fkeletons* were but re- 

 cently brought to light, may we not expedl to be gratified, 

 in thele times of refearch, with other difcoveries of a fimi- 

 lar kind ? Can we believe, then, that fo many and fuch 

 itupendous creatures could exift for centuries and be con- 

 cealed from the prying eye of inquiiltive man ? 



The benevolent perfualion, that no link in the chain of 

 creation will ever be fufFered to perifli, has induced certain 

 authors of diftinguifhed merit,-f- to provide a refidence for 

 our Mammoth in the remote regions of the north. Some 

 of the North American Indians alfo believe in the now ex- 

 igence of this animal, and place him far beyond the lakes. 

 But their belief refts on mere tradition : for none of them 

 will venture to declare they have feen the animal them- 

 lelveSj or that their information concerning him, is drawn 

 from any perfon who had. Their tradition is to this effed:. 

 " In ancient times," fay they, " a herd of Mammoths 

 " came to the Great-Bone Lick, and began a univerfal de- 

 " ftrudion of the bears, deer, elks, buffaloes and other 

 " animals. It fo provoked the Great Man above to fee the 

 " havoc thus fpread among creatures defigned for the ufe 

 " of his favourite Red Men, that he killed all the Mam- 

 " moths except the big bull, who fled wounded beyond 

 " the lakes, where he is living to this day." 



There is little or no dependence to be placed on Indian 

 traditions. They are fo clouded with fable, as to obfcure 

 any truths they may happen to contain. The above 

 tradition, indeed, is not exaftly of this defcription, though 

 it partakes largely of the fabulous : There is a truth in it, 

 which my perfonal acquaintance with the Great-Bone Lick 



has 



* The Megollcks of Paraguay : alfo certain large bones found in a ni- 

 h-ous cavern in Virginia, and prefented to our fociety by its worthy Prefident, 



t Pennant. Jefferfop, 



