98 Indian Mounds and Earthworks. 
Learned archeologists have speculated as to what nation, in 
far distant times, constructed the ordinary tumuli of circular form, 
so abundant in the great Mississippi valley. They have not yet, 
I believe, commenced to descant on the origin of those other con- 
figurations, the recent examination of which has given rise to the 
present article. From that highly important contribution to 
North American early history, the “ Antiquitates Americanz,” 
lately edited by the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries of 
Copenhagen, little or no knowledge can be acquired respecting 
the mounds of North America; and the communication in the 
same work from the Rhode Island Historical Society, refers, for 
the most part, merely to the chiseled figures and hieroglyphics 
on the rocks of Rhode Island. 
There are few, if any, authentic sources at hand, from whence 
to draw information, and it is no doubt quite unsafe to rely upon 
the accuracy of Indian traditions concerning these mounds, espe- 
cially as the last occupiers of the soil were but comparatively in 
recent possession. Successive tribes have occupied, by turns, the 
region of country where these apparent animal and human effi- 
gies abound. The Winnebago Indians, a branch of the great 
Dahcotah or Sioux family, have held possession of that part of 
the Wisconsin country which lies immediately south of the Wis- 
consin river, and east of the Mississippi, only from sixty to eighty 
years. ‘Broxiously to this time the district was in the hands of 
the Sauks and Fox Indians, a branch of the Chippewas, who dug 
and smelted the lead ore, but were driven out by the Winneba- 
gos. Neither of these tribes now erect permanent monuments 
of this character, to the memory of their dead. We have seen 
them, it is true, in numerous places, excavate graves, and deposit 
the remains of the deceased on the summits of the ancient circu- — 
lar tumuli, which they appear to conceive were constructed for 
such purposes. Some of these modern burial places are accom- 
panied by rude memorials, denoting the tribe and rank, and some- 
times by hieroglyphics, in red paint, even recording the principal 
achievements of distinguished individuals. 
But to a far different race, assuredly, and to a far distant pe- 
riod, must we look when seeking to trace the authors of these 
singular mounds, and the earthworks of such various forms, which 
are spread over the North American continent, from Lake Supe- 
rior to Mexico. The degenerate Menominess, and the slothful 
