100 Description of some Sepulchral Pits of Indian Origin. 



It is perhaps worthy of notice that, in the neighboui-hood of some 



of these sepulchral pits, other ancient signs of Indian existence are 



still to be found. Within about half a mile of the first may be seen 



a place where the earth has been thrown up, so as to form squares or 



columns. These spots might be passed without notice, and the 



mounds attributed to fallen trees ; but on examination, no traces of 



timber or roots can be found, and persons familiar with the bush 



consider them to be artificial. They may be traced extending in a 



line for a considerable distance. Below this, and following the course 



of a tolerably wide stream for about a mile, is what the Canadians 



of the neighbourhood call the " Plum Garden.'' It is an alluvial 



level, having the appearance of being at times flooded by the river, 



abounding in wild plum and cherry trees, with a mixture of poplar. 



They have given it this name under the idea that it has been cleared 



before and planted with fruit trees (they think by the French), 



though it is more likely that a peculiarity in the soil alone accounts 



for the existence of so many of these trees. A settler in cutting a 



tree here for some domestic purpose, not long since struck upon an 



iron ring, which was deeply imbedded in its substance. Following 



a small tributary of the river back to the rising ground, from this 



place a spot may be seen quite bare of vegetation, somewhat elevated 



and covered apparently with baked earth. Pieces of earthenware 



are found here in great quantities, which makes it likely that the 



material was manufactured on this piece of ground. Stone and iron 



axes, too, are often found in this neighbourhood. 



Edw. W. Bawtree, M.D. 



Since the above was written, another pit has been examined 

 about eight miles from Penetanqueshenc, and as far back in the forest, 

 having the same chai'acter as the other, but a little more interest 

 perhaps attached to it from the following appearances, which were - 

 noticed in its immediate vicinity. It is placed on a gentle elevation, 

 which has a descent to the south, and is level towards the north ; 

 in the former direction is Nottagawara Bay, which is supposed to be 

 about four miles off; in the latter the small lake which was lately 

 noticed ; its distance from the last pit being, perhaps, about five 

 miles in a direct line across the lake. It is probably about the middle 

 of the township of Giny. Close by the side of it is another pit, 

 which is not circular but elongated, with a mound on each side. At 

 the brow of the hill, if it may be so called, and commencing about 

 20 yards from the pits, there is the appearance of a long ditch ex- 

 tending in a direction soith-west ; another ditch about half of the 

 length of this meets it at right angles on the top of the rising ground, 

 and is continued a few yards beyond the point of junction ; a third 

 ditch intersects the short one as sheivn in the diagram. 



The two first of these ditches form two sides of a parallelogram, 

 but there is no sigrns of an enclosure at the other sides where the 



