A Pre-Columbian Mine. 239 



the problem was solved. My wanderings had 

 brought me at last to this beautiful spot, to a 

 camping-ground perched upon a high hill that 

 overlooked a glorious country. Recompense 

 enough of itself when taking an outing, and how 

 much more when now, at my feet, was the key 

 that unlocked a mystery that for years had teased 

 me ! How much fuller was every known feature 

 of Indian life by reason of this discovery ! Hence- 

 forth every arrow-point will have an added interest. 

 If I cannot trace its career, I can, at least, point to 

 its home. It is useless, however, to speculate con- 

 cerning the antiquity of these jasper mines, and 

 yet almost the first question asked is, " How old 

 are they ?" as if they needed a few centuries, more 

 or less, to give them interest. When the Indian 

 first happened here matters not ; but it was long 

 ago, and even then his range of culture was not 

 so insignificant as the average reader supposes. 

 He could work marvellously well in stone of other 

 sorts, and proved his eye for symmetry by objects 

 of ceremonial import of wonderful beauty, both 

 in design and workmanship ; and then, what of 

 those etched gorgets so common among them? 



