17 



away its channel through this rock, to the depth of seventy feet. 

 To sum up a tolerably clear case. The age of the stone 

 implements found in this gravel l)ed, may fairly be computed to 

 be that period of time which has elapsed since this l)ed w.is the 

 river's edge, a period which has consisted of the time necessary 

 to allow the river through seventy feet of solid greenstone rock, 

 slowly to wear away for itself its present channel. To estimate 

 the period of time necessary for such a change as this, is as 

 difticult as to estimate the time which has elapsed since man 

 shared a half- frozen Europe, with the woolly-haired rhinoceros 

 and the mammoth. Taken in connection with the geological 

 evidence, however, there is one other point which is of great 

 interest in assisting us to form some rough idea of the great 

 antiquity of these implements. 



The shell mounds found round the mouth of the Buffalo, 

 are in many instances situated close to the river banks. 

 Sections of some of these mounds have been made in cuttings 

 for roads and for the railway, thus exposing their structure, 

 and affording every facility for their investigation. They 

 consist of sand, shells, and bones of animals, while scattered 

 through them are found rude pieces of pottery Large hearth- 

 stones surrounded by ashes, have been found in one cr two 

 instances. The largest of these mounds, situated on the 

 eastern bank of the river, is of considerable magnitude. It has 

 l)een cut completely through, and amidst the del)ris a human 

 skull was found, and subsequently given to me by Mr. Mackay. 

 It is a small round skull with a low contracted brow, and is of 

 great thickness. It is like the skull of a Bushman or Hottentot, 

 and in all probability is the skull of an individual of one of 

 these races, or of some race very nearly allied to them. These 

 shell mounds very closely resemble the shell mounds 

 " Kjokkenmoddings," or kitchen-refuse heaps found on the 

 shores of Denmark, Init they differ in one important particular. 



