90 Description of some Sepulchral Pits of Indian Origin. 



shell. On some the smooth inner surface still remains in the form 

 of a depression, and in others the worn edge shews the structure and 

 formation. Each is perforated through its long axis ; they were 

 found in bunches, and had evidently been strung together in gra- 

 duated rows of large and small. Besides these were found cylin- 

 drical pieces of earthenware and porcelain, or glass-tubes, from an 

 eighth to a quarter of an inch in diameter, and from a quarter to 

 two inches long ; the former had the appearance of red and white 

 tobacco-pipes worn away by friction, the latter of blue and red 

 glass. An hexagonal body with flat ends, about an inch and a-half 

 in diameter, and one inch thick, was also found. It seemed to be 

 formed of some kind of porcelain, being of hard texture, nearly 

 vitreous, and much variegated in colour, with alternate layers of 

 red, blue, and white. This also was perforated through^ the centre, 

 and was probably used as an ornament, or formed part of a pipe. 

 (Fig. 6.) This pit was carefully examined, and it is worthy of 

 notice that no lozenge-shaped beads like those found in the last 

 and two following could be detected by the closest search. 



The third of these sepulchral pits which have been examined can 

 hardly be said to be in this neighbourhood. It was visited on the 

 4th November last, and is situated on lot 7th, 8th Concession of the 

 township of Oro, and had been opened by the proprietor of the land 

 about a fortnight before. The land belongs to a Mr Galbraith, an 

 intelligent Highlander, who gave a very distinct account of the ex- 

 ploration of the pit. It had been cleared for several years, and no 

 notice taken of the pit till the above time, when a new settler built 

 a shenty nearly over it. A French Canadian happening to come 

 there to work at the house, immediately recognised its peculiar ap- 

 pearance, and told the people that if they would dig there, they would 

 certainly find plenty of bones and twenty-six kettles, — a prediction 

 which was speedily verified. 



This pit is on elevated ground, in the midst of a fine undulating 

 and hilly country, but apparently without any relation in its situa- 

 tion to surrounding objects or places, except, perhaps, that it is on a 

 short line of communication between Lakes Simcoe and Huron. The 

 soil is a light loam. It measures about fifteen feet in diameter, has 

 the distinctly-defined elevated ring, but the centre less depressed 

 than in those before examined, which may have arisen from the 

 character of the soil, or the greater bulk of its contents. On its 

 margin grew formerly a very large pine, which was cut down at the 

 clearing of the land. The roots of this pine had grown through the 

 pit in every direction. 



The bones were scarcely covered with earth ; they were of all sizes. 

 Galbraith himself made a rough calculation of their number by 

 counting the skulls from a measured space, which gave to the whole 

 not less than fifteen hundred ; this was probably an exaggerated 

 number, though they undoubtedly amounted to several hundreds. 

 They were in good preservation ; on some, pieces of tendon still re- 



