Description af some Sepulchral Pits of Indian Origin. 101 



ground is low and becomes nearly level. The long one is about 75 

 paces in length, the other half that length, the former terminates 

 at a moderate sized gum-tree, the latter moves abruptly at an old 

 decayed birch. Their average depth is about a foot and half, some 

 of them being much deeper than others, though the whole line is dis- 

 tinctly marked. 



On the north side of the shorter and upper ditch, several Indian's 

 graves were found, not placed in any order, but scattered about at 

 various distances from each other. Three of these were examined 

 and found to contain human bones ; one, in particular, contained an 

 entire skeleton in perfect preservation. Some pieces of charcoal were 

 found with the bones, but no weapons, vessels, or ornaments of any 

 kind. 



The ditches just noticed had the appearance at first of being a 

 succession of these small pits or graves, particularly near the point 

 of junction of the tree where the depth is greatest. This part was 

 dug into with the idea that human bones would be found there also, 

 but none could be discovered, nor was there an appearance of any- 

 thincr havinfT been buried there ; and it seems certain that it had 

 been applied to some other purpose than a grave, though what this 

 may have been is rather difficult to determine. Had the enclosure 

 appeared complete, it is thought there would be little doubt of its 

 havino- formed the site of a fortified Indian village ; and it appears 

 now it could hardly have been formed for protection, as the open 

 sides of the space are guarded by no natural formation of ground even. 



Another conjecture is, that a temporary defence has been thrown 

 up against an approaching enemy. The open space may have been 

 filled up with fallen trees, a mode of defence often adopted by the 

 Hurons while encamped during war. 



The small pits or graves just noticed have the same appearance as 

 those described at p. 19, and the finding the bones in these seems 

 satisfactorily to prove the conjecture there formed of their use to be 

 true. It may be remarked that the skull of the very perfect skeleton 

 spoken of was found placed upon pieces of bark. 



The laro-e pit was no doubt connected with the funeral ceremon/ 

 Charlevoix desci'ibes ; and from the fact of finding skeletons in the 

 graves, it is not unreasonable to imagine that the neighbouring village 

 was hastily deserted or quickly depopulated, so that the full form of 

 burial had not been enacted with all the dead. It seemed to contain 

 very few relics besides the bones ; only one small conch-shell could 

 be found, and there were no traces of beads or crockery, which, to- 

 gether with the more decayed condition of the bones, seem to shew 

 that this pit is more ancient than any of the others. The bones 

 were covered with 3 or 4 feet of earth, which is more than is usually 

 found over them, giving the pit a less evident form than they gene- 

 rally have for want of the marginal ring which the ejected earth, 

 not having been all thrown back in most of them, produces. 



