Description of some Sepulchral Pits of Indian Origin. 91 



mained, and the joints of the small bones in some cases were un- 

 separated. It was noticed that only a few of the skulls bore marks 

 of violence. One which was exposed in our presence had a circular 

 perforation on the top resembling a bullet hole, and others, it had 

 been observed, bore tlae appearance of having been " tomahawked." 

 A similar observation was made on the size of the bones as had been 

 on those found in the other pits, that some of the lower jaws were 

 very large, and would amply encircle that of a full-sized European, 

 The cylindrical bones did not appear, however, to be of unusual 

 size. 



As in the first noticed pit, so here were found also twenty -six ket- 

 tles, — four of brass, the rest of copper ; one conch-shell, one iron axe, 

 a pipe, and some of the lozenge-shaped beads. 



The kettles in this pit were described as being arranged in the 

 form of a cross, through its centre, and in a row round the circum- 

 ference. From observations made with the compass, it is probable 

 that the points of this cross bore a relation to the cardinal points : 

 two of them faced upwards, the others wei'e placed with their bases 

 upwards. The conch-shell was found under one of the kettles, which 

 had all been carefully packed with beaver skins and bark. They re- 

 sembled exactly those before described, but averaged a smaller size. 

 They were in good preservation ; but, with this peculiarity, that each 

 had been rendered useless by blows from a tomahawk. That they 

 had been intentionally cut into, there can be no doubt, — some bear- 

 ing one, others three or four clean incisions, which were all of the 

 same length and shape, and all on the base of the kettle ; they had 

 evidently been made with an axe, and the size of the cuts seemed to 

 correspond to the edge of the one found with them. Should any 

 doubt exist as to the exact history of these pits, the fact of these 

 kettles having been rendered unserviceable, seems highly calculated 

 to increase that doubt, as it appears to have been a proceeding so 

 very contrary to the habits and ideas of Indians in general. 



The conch-shell is smaller than those found in the township of 

 Giny. It is in good preservation, though quite white, and, in some 

 parts, has lost its smooth surface. A piece has been cut from it as 

 in the last described, 



A pipe was also found, which the person who explored the pit de- 

 scribed as having been formed out of bluestone or hard clay, and 

 very neatly cut in a succession of circles, the base being nearly as 

 large as a common tumbler. On one side it had a human face, the 

 eyes of which were formed of a fine white pearly-looking bead. This 

 pipe was unfortunately destroyed by some drunken farmers while ex- 

 amining it. It was described as being remarkably liandsomc, and 

 would iiave been more carefully preserved had the discoverer noticed 

 its beauty at first ; but in its dirty soiled state, he paid but little at- 

 tention to it. An iron axe, exactly similar also to that before no- 

 ticed, though of snialler size, was fouzid ; and a large quantity of the 

 flat circular beads. 



