204 Scientific Geology. 



mighty spirit, or giant, who once inhabited the spot. This they have 

 done in attempting to account for appearances at Gay Head. I am 

 indebted to C. C. Baldwin Esq. Librarian of the American Antiqua- 

 rian "Society, for an interesting extract, exhibiting the Indian tradition 

 on this subject. He has added another extract, showing the Indian 

 Philosophy of Fogs on the coast : and another from the writings of 

 Cotton Mather relating to some fossil bones found in Virginia, which 

 is a good exhibition of the manner in which such facts were regarded 

 a century ago. I take the liberty to subjoin the entire letter. 



Worcester, July 7, 1832. 

 MY DEAR SIR, 



I will now comply with my promise in relation 



to the interesting Fossil Remains, which you found in your recent 

 visit to the Elizabeth Islands. 



" The first Indian who came to the Vineyard, was brought thither 

 with his dog on a cake of ice. When he came to Gay Head, he 

 found a very large man, whose name was Moshop. He had a wife 

 and five children, four sons and one daughter; and lived in the den. 

 He used to catch whales, and then pluck up trees, and make a fire and 

 roast them. The coals of the trees and the bones of the whales are 

 now to be seen. After he was tired of staying here, he told his 

 children to go and play ball on the beach that joined Neman's Land 

 to Gay Head. He then made a mark with his toe across the beach 

 at each end, and so deep, that the water followed and cut away the 

 beach ; so that his children were in fear of drowning. They took 

 their sister up and held her out of the water. He told them to act 

 as if they were going to kill whales ; and they were all turned into 

 Killers, (a fish so called). The sister was dressed in large stripes. 

 He gave them a strict charge always to be kind to her. His wife 

 mourned the loss of her children so exceedingly, that he threw her 

 away. She fell upon Seconet, near the rocks, where she lived some- 

 time, exacting contribution of all who passed by water. After a 

 while she was changed into a stone. The entire shape remained for 

 many years. But after the English came, some of them broke off 

 the arms, head, &c. but the most of the body remains to this day. 

 Moshop went away, nobody knows whither. He had no conversa- 

 tion with the Indians, but was kind to them by sending them whales, 

 &c. ashore for them to eat. But after they grew thick around him, 

 he left them." See Mass. His. Collections, Vol. 1. p. 139. 



