THE MOUNDS OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 509 
large fields, and understood and appreciated the benefits arising from 
the use of fertilizers.* Indeed such was his proficiency and industry, 
that even with the rude and imperfect implements at his disposal,t he 
not only raised corn enough for his own use, but, as a rule, had some 
to spare to his needy neighbors, both red and white. + Under ordinary 
circumstances it would only be necessary to establish this fact in order 
to prove, beyond cavil, that the red Indian was an agriculturist in the 
very highest acceptation of that term, and that in this respect, at least, 
he stood upon the same footing as the mound-builders. In the present 
instance however this is not the case. Not only is it not sufficient to 
prove that the Indians were husbandmen in order to raise them to this 
level, but we are called upon to show that among them the men labored 
in the fields as well as the women. Indeed, we are told by a writer, 
from whom I differ with many misgivings, that in this respect there 
was a very great difference between the mound-builders and the recent 
Indians; and although the difference is said not to be absolute, yet it 
is gravely asserted that among the former “the men must have labored, 
whilst among the latter labor is left to the squaws.”§ Statements like 
these, unsupported by evidence, do not carry much weight; and if this 
investigation were intended to be a mere trial of dialectical skill, and 
not an earnest search after the truth, it would be sufficient to pass them 
by with a simple denial—all the reply that they are logically entitled 
*“ Also he tould them excepte they gott fish, and set with it (in the old grounds) 
it would come to nothing.” Bradford’s History of Plymouth Plantation, in vol. 11, 
of the 4th series of Mass. Hist. Coll., p. 100. The Iroquois ‘‘manure a great deal of 
ground for sowing their Indian corn.” Hennepin, A new Discovery of a vast Country 
in America, etec., vol. 1, p. 18: London, 1698. ‘‘Tous ces peuples” (Armouchiquois, 
Virginiens, etc.)” “‘engraissent leurs champs de coquillages de poissons.” Les- 
carbot, vol. u, p. 834: Paris, 1612. ‘‘ They never dung their land, only when they 
would sow.” Laudonnitre. First Attempt of the French to Colonize Florida, in 
Hist. Coll. Louisiana,, new series, p. 174: New York, 1869. 
t‘** Use wooden howes.” Williams’ Key, p. 130. ‘‘Spades made of hard wood used 
in agriculture.” Bossu, Travels Through Louisiana, p. 224: London, 1771. “ Flor- 
ida Indians dig their ground with an instrument of wood which is fashioned like a 
broad mattock.” Laudonniere in Hist. Coll. Louisiana, new series, p. 174: New 
York, 1869. “ Ils ont un instrument de bois fort dur, faict en fagon dune besche.” 
Champlain, vol. 1, p. 95: Paris, 1880. ‘11 leur suffit d’un morceau de bois recourbé 
de trois doigts de largeur, attaché a un long manche qui leur sert a sarcler la terre 
et a la remuer legerement.” Lafitau, Moeurs des Sauvages Ameriquains, vol. I, p. 
76. ‘Use hoes made of shoulder blade of animals fixed on staves.” Romans, Last 
and West Florida, p. 119. ‘‘ Use shoulder blade of a deer or a tortoise shell, sharp- 
ened upon a stone and fastened to a stick instead of a hoe.” Loskiel, Missions in 
North America, p. 67: London, 1794. See also Joutel in Hist. Coll. Louisiana, part 1, 
p. 149, etc. 
} Relation de la Nouvelle France en V année 1641, p. 81: Quebec, 1858. Sagard, 
Voyage des Hurons, pp. 125, 134: Paris, 1632. Capt. John Smith, Description of New 
England in Mass. Hist. Coll., vol. v1, of 3d series, p. 120. La Hontain, Voyages, vol. 
I, p. 105: London, 1703. Charlevoix, Letters, p. 175: London, 1763. 
§ Some Considerations on the Mound-builders. By M. F. Force. Pamphlet, p. 72: 
Cincinnati, 1873. 
