178 THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 
to pieces by the weights which had been placed 
upon it as to be of no value. There is no doubt 
that by proper efforts discoveries might be made 
which would throw light on the history of the 
early inhabitants of this continent. A highly 
scientific gentleman of New York, one of the 
early visitors to the Cave, says in his published 
narrative : 
“‘On my first visit to the Mammoth Cave in 
1813, I saw a relic of ancient times, which re- 
quires a minute description. This description is 
from a memorandum made in the Cave at the 
time. 
“Tn the digging of saltpetre-earth in the Short 
Cave a flat rock was met with by the workmen, 
a little below the surface of the earth, in the 
Cave: this stone was raised, and was about four 
feet wide, and as many long; beneath it was a 
square excavation about three feet deep, and as 
many in length and width. In this small nether 
subterranean chamber sat.in solemn silence one 
of the human species, a female, with her wardrobe 
and ornaments placed at her side. The body was. 
in a state of perfect preservation, and sitting erect. 
The arms were folded up, and the hands were 
laid across the bosom; around the two wrists was 
wound a small cord, designed, probably, to keep 
