THE MOUNDS OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 593 
of timber for the defenders, together with wooden gutters, by which 
streams of water could be poured down on fires kindled by the enemy. 
There was no mathematical regularity in these works, their form being 
determined by the nature of the ground. Frequently a precipice or 
river sufficed for partial defense, and the line of embankment occurs 
only on the exposed sides. We are also told that in erecting these 
works it was probable that the palisades were planted first, and the 
earth afterwards heaped on both sides in the manner described by 
Cusick * and La Hontan.t At an early day the Jesuits taught the 
Hurons to build rectangular palisaded forts with bastions, and the 
Troquois, whose forts are said to have been stronger and more elaborate 
than those of the Hurons, soon adopted the same practice, omitting, in 
some cases, the ditch and the embankment. Among the Algonquin 
tribes of southeastern New York a similar method of fortification seems 
to have prevailed. According to Van der Donck,{ the Indians of New 
Netherlands, ‘‘in their villages and castles always build firm, strong 
works. They usually select a situation on theside of a steep, high hill, 
near a stream or river, which is difficult of access except from the water, 
and inaccessible on every other side, with a level plain on the crown 
of the hill, which they inclose with a strong stockade in a singular 
manner. First they lay along on the ground large logs of wood, and 
frequently smaller logs upon the lower logs, which serve for the founda- 
tion of the work. Then they place strong oak palisades in the ground 
on both sides of the foundation, the upper ends of which cross each 
other, and are joined together. In the upper cross of the palisade 
they then place the bodies of trees, which makes the work strong and 
firm. These castles are considered very strong, and they frequently 
contain twenty or thirty houses, some of which, by actual measurement, 
are 180 yards (sic) long, and about 20 feet wide. Besides these strong- 
holds they have other villages and towns, which are also inclosed.” 
The Pequots of Connecticut were a kindred tribe, and Vincent,§ de- 
scribing their fort near New London, says: “ Here they pitch, close 
together as they can, young trees and half trees as thick as a man’s 
thigh or the ealf of his leg. Ten or twelve foot high they are above the 
ground, and within rammed 3 foot deep with banking, the earth 
being cast up for their better shelter against the enemy’s discharge- 
ments.” <A fort of the Narragansetts is said to have had an exterior 
ditch,|| and we are told that a party of Mohegans, having invaded Block 
*In vol. v of Schooleraft, Indian Tribes, p. 637. 
t Travels, vol. 11, p. 67: ‘‘The Hurons set up palesand fasten them with earth.” 
‘““The Indians are more skillful in erecting their fortifications than in building their 
houses; here you see villages surrounded with a good palisade and with redonbts :” 
Charlevoix, Letters, ii, p. 127: London, 1761. . 
t New Netherlands, p. 197. 
§ Mass. Hist. Coll., third series, vol. v1, p. 39. 
|| Dwight’s Travels, vol. 111, p. 23: New Haven, 1822. 
H. Mis. 334, pt. 1 38 
