Quebec. 125 



fuppofe, that they had been eredted by 

 human hands. Sometimes they have found 

 fuch ftones laid upon one another, and, as 

 it were, formed into a wall. In fome of 

 thofe places where they found fuch ftones, 

 they could not find any other forts of 

 ftones. They have not been able to dif- 

 cover any characters, or writing, upon any 

 of thefe ftones, though they have made 

 a very careful fearch after them. At laft 

 they met with a large ftone, like a pillar, 

 and in it a fmaller ftone was fixed, which 

 was covered on both fides with unknown 

 characters. This ftone, which was about 

 a foot of French meafure in length, and 

 between four or five inches broad, they 

 broke loofe, and carried to Canada with 

 them, from whence it was fent to France, 

 to the fecretary of ftate, the count of Mau- 

 repas. What became of it afterwards is 

 unknown to them, but they think it is yet 

 preferved in his collection. Several - of 

 the Jefuits, who have feen and handled 

 this ftone in Canada, unanimoufly affirm, 

 that the letters on it, are the fame with 

 thofe which in the books, containing ac- 

 counts of Tat aria, are called Tfatarian cha- 

 racters *, and that, on comparing both to- 

 gether, 



THIS account feems to be highly probable, for we find 



in 



