ADVENTUKES IN LOUISIANA. 187 



gether wrong, though. I believe it Avas once an 

 Indian mound." 



While he spoke we were walking on, and I now 

 distinguished a hillock or mound of earth, with 

 nearly perpendicular sides, on. which was erected a 

 blockhouse, formed of unhewn cypress trunks, of a 

 solidity and thickness upon which four-and-twenty 

 pounders would have had some difficulty in making 

 an impression. Its roof rose about ten feet above 

 a palisade enclosing the building, and consisting of 

 stout saplings sharpened at the top, and stuck in the 

 ground, at a very short distance from each other, 

 being moreover strengthened and bound together with 

 Avattles and branches. The building had evidently 

 been constructed more for a refuge and place of 

 defence than an habitual residence. 



A ladder was now lowered, by which we ascended 

 to the top of the mound. There was a small door in 

 the palisades, which Xathan opened and passed 

 through, we following. 



The blockhouse was of equal length and breadth, 

 about forty feet square. On entering it we found 

 nothing but the bare walls, with the exception of 

 a wide chimney of sun-baked brick, and in one 

 corner a large wooden slab partly imbedded in the 

 ground. 



"Don't tread upon that board," said the old man 

 solemnly, as we approached the slab to examine it ; 

 "it is holy ground." 



