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322 Geology, gc. of Tennessee, Gc. 
The causes which have produced the nitric salts of these 
caves, may not yet have been fully developed. But it is highly 
probable, they are to be ascribed to the decomposition of ani- 
mal substances. 
It is reasonable to suppose, that in an uncultivated country 
they would become the abodes of wild animals, and even of 
; men. That they have been used by the natives as bu- 
ial places, is certain. In one which I entered, I counted a 
hundred human skulls, in the space of twenty feet square. 
All the lesser and more corruptible parts of each skeleton had 
mouldered to dust, and the whole lay in the greatest confusion. 
I have heard of many such caves, and to this day some of the 
Indians are known to deposit their dead in them. From the de- 
composition of such substances, it is well known the acid of the 
nitric salts arises, and it would of course unite with the lime 
wad where pregent, and form nitrate of lime. 
o: 
Mounds. 
A, I have but one more article of curiosity to mention under 
this division. It is one of those artificial mounds which occur 
so frequently in the western country. I have seen many © 
them, and read of more. But never of one of such dimen- 
sions as that which I am now to describe. 
It is situated in the interior of the Cherokee nation, 00 the 
north side of the Etowee, vulgarly called Hightower River, 
one of the branches of the Koosee. It stands upon 4 strip © 
alluvial land, called River Bottom. 1 visited it in company with 
eight Indian chiefs. The first object which exited attention 
was an excavation about twenty feet wide, and in some parts 
ten feet deep. Its course is nearly that of a semicircle; the 
extremities extending towards the river, which forms # small 
elbow. I had not time to examine it minutely. A? Indian 
said it extended each way to the river, and had several unex~ 
cavated parts, which served for passages to the area which it 
encloses. To my surprise, I found no embankment on either 
side ofit. But I did not long doubt to what place the earth 
had been removed; for I had scarcely proceeded two undret 
