also from the peculiar hole in one of the arm bones, per- 

 haps indicating a blow with some pointed instrument, 

 gives opportunity for speculations which cannot be proved 

 or disproved by these silent relics of a once populous race 

 inhabiting tfce beautiful country where their bones were 

 laid so long ago that tradition of the more recent Indian 

 tribes gives no clew to them ; whence they came or 

 whither they went, all is lost in the great mystery of the 

 past, and only their empty heads and wonderful monu- 

 ments of industry, with their implements of skill, are 

 left to tell us of their former power. We know not if 

 these burials indicate famine, pestilence, war, or the un- 

 holy sacrifice. We can only conjecture that they were 

 not the graves of persons who had died a natural death. 



The caves of Kentucky were often used as receptacles 

 for the dead, and many of them contain large numbers of 

 human skeletons ; but that they were also used as at 

 least temporary places of habitation is shown, by the 

 relics found in Salt Cave, situated near the Mammoth 

 Cave, and belonging to the same proprietors. This cave, 

 which is a rival to the Mammoth in the size of some of 

 its avenues, is difficult of access. A small stream of 

 water flows over its mouth, and runs off, through the loose 

 rocks that have fallen from the roof of the cave, to the 

 passage on the left. After entering the cave, the descent 

 of a steep hill of loose rock to the right leads into a large 

 avenue of several miles in length, the floor of which is 

 covered with jagged rocks which have fallen from above. 

 After climbing over this rough road for some distance, 

 small areas are observed where the rock has not fallen 

 from above, and where 1<he original dirt floor or river bed 

 is seen. In these places there are to be found quite level 

 spots where fires have been kindled, and small piles of 

 stone placed by human hands. Here and there, in favor- 



