330 EXPEDITION TO THE 



rage height of seventy-five feet on the left bank. In the 

 bottoms, the elm forms the principal growth of the coun- 

 try, and thrives. In the rear of the village of Taoapa, a 

 swamp extends, and divides it from the bluffs. The grass 

 grows in some places to the height of six feet, as was prin- 

 cipally observed, east of the village, by some of the party 

 who undertook to walk down to the place where Mr. Say 

 had been spoken to. We saw about the village no stones 

 of any kind, but, on the right bank, Major Long observed a 

 number of fragments of primitive rock, and also some secon- 

 dary limestone, which appeared to him to be in situ. There 

 were some scaffolds upon which several corpses were rais- 

 ed. In the midst of the corn-fields a dog was found sus- 

 pended, his head decorated with feathers, and with horse- 

 hair stained red ; it was probably a sacrifice for the protec- 

 tion of the corn-fields, dui'ing the absence of the Indians. 

 On the right bank Major Long observed numerous ancient 

 tumuli or artificial mounds, some of which were of a large 

 size. They occupy a considerable extent of the prairie 

 upon which they are situated. In one part, they formed a 

 line of about half a mile, in a direction parallel to the river, 

 from which they were distant about three hundred yards. 

 The mounds were erected at a distance of from twelve to 

 fifteen yards asunder, and when observed from one end of 

 the line, presented the appearance of a ridge or parapet. 



Proceeding early the next morning, the land party was 

 found encamped six miles above the village, on a fine 

 piece of rising ground, which the voyagers have called the 

 Little Prairie. They had not been able to reach the village 

 from the inexperience of their guide, who had kept them 

 in the rear of the swamp. The river was observed to 

 widen much at places; it was here about seventy yards 

 broad; its current, which had always been inconsiderable. 



