OF LANCASTER COUNTY. 613 



blue by a narrow wavy line of white, centre white around the perforation. The white 

 line forms twelve waves, as in the figures in Schoolcraft's Indian Tribes, Vol. 1, pi. 21, 

 p. p. 11, 12, 13." 



Some of these specimens arc in possession of Prof. S. S. Ilaldcman, of Chi«|ues, to 

 whom we are indebted for this communication. 



The subjoined account refers to the picture-writing on the rocks below Safe Harbor. 

 It was written by Professor T. C. Porter, D.D., fonnerly of Lancaster, now of Lafay- 

 ette College, Easton, Pa., dated April 1, 1865 : 



"I inclose much reduced photographic copies of figures carved by the Indians on two 

 gneissic rocks (A and B,) in the Susquehanna river, below the dam at Safe Harbor, 

 Lancaster county. Pa., drawn from casts in plaster, taken under tlie auspices of the 

 Linnajn Society of Lancaster county, in the autumn of 1803, and the summer of 1804. 

 The casts are boxed up and ready for sending to the Smithsonian Institution. Tlio 

 largest figure is over three feet in length. When the season arrives, we will secure for 

 you a full set of casts in plaster, from which accurate drawings can be made. 



"In the month of September, 1863, the existence of figures chiseled out by the red 

 men of oui- stone period, on certain rocks in the Susquehanna River, became known to 

 the Linntean Socity of Lancaster County, and a committee was appointed, with the 

 president, Prof. T. C. Porter, as chairman, to visit those rocks and obtain casts of the 

 figures in plaster. The work was begun and carried on during the month of October, 

 but not completed till the summer of 1864, the rocks being accessible only at a low stage 

 of the water. Drawings on a greatly reduced scale were made from the casts by Mr. 

 Jacob Staufter and photographic copies, still more reduced, by Mr. W. L. Gill, members 

 of the Society. Those under the letter A belong to the larger rock, and those under B 

 to the smaller one. The intention is to furnish the American Philosophical Society with 

 a full set of casts, in order that a permanent record may be secured in their transac- 

 tions. Search for the implements used in cutting out the figures has, as yet, been 

 unsuccessful. The following facts were collected and reported by the committee : 



''Position of tJie Rocks: The Susquehanna river, below the dam at Safe Harbor, Lan- 

 caster County, is filled with a multitude of rocks and rocky islets, various in size and 

 extent, between which, the fall being considerable, the water rushes, forming a series 

 of rapids and eddies, navigable only by channels. The width of the stream at this 

 point is scarcely less than a mile, and the jurisdiction of Lancaster County extends to 

 low-water mark on the York County shore. 



"Among these rocks are the two in question. 



"The larger one, A, lies a full half mile below the dam, in a line nearly due south 

 from the mouth of the Conestoga. 



•'The smaller one, B, is situated about 250 yards further up, in the same line, at a 

 distance of some 400 or 500 yards from the eastern shore. 



"The currents around both rocks are strong and swift. 



" Their Character: Each rock is composed of several masses overlying each other at 

 an angle of 45° down stream, the lines of division running east and west, the southern 

 crest being the highest". They consist of gneiss, which is rather friable within but 

 hard on the outside. The surface is roughened by grains of quartz, and here and there, 

 are seen distinct veins of the same material. The portions facing up stream have been 

 rounded and worn smooth by the action of ice and drift-wood during the high freshets 

 of early spring, as may be inferred from the logs piled upon and around them, and from 

 the striai or grooves on the larger rock, produced probably by angular pieces of stouo 

 imbedded in cakes of ice. Each rock has, also extending a little distance below it, a 

 tongue of land on which grow dwarf oaks, dog-woods, and a few herbaceous plants. 



''Their Dimensions: Rock A measures through the centre, from north to south, 83 

 feet, and from east to west 40 feet. It slopes gradually upward from north to south; 

 the lowest part being 9 feet, and the highest 16 feet above low-water mark. This rock 



