MONUMENTS. 199 



less intense. He should be invited to a pastoral life, rather 

 than to the more toilsome and more intricate and skilful 

 labors of agriculture. Let government, instead of the farm- 

 ing implements and the articles furnished through the traders ; 

 and preceding the schools, give them sheep. It will not be 

 so opposite to their habits ; so above their skill ; or so revolt- 

 ing to their spirit, to tend the flocks. The occupation v^^ill 

 give them an article, v\^ool, which will suggest new w^ants, 

 clothing, They will appropriate it to those wants. Those 

 wants gratified, and a surplus of a valuable commodity left 

 to them, they will create new w^ants, and will exchange that 

 commodity for something to supply the new want, gratify the 

 new desire. In this way by steps they will acquire both the 

 wants, and the ways and means, of artificial society. But 

 they will neither fall nor jump into them. • Some of the tribes 

 have indeed passed very rapidly from the wild state to civili- 

 sation ; but a transition state is more natural, more whole- 

 some, and will in the end produce greater results, both nume- 

 rically and morally. 



There is a very singular monument, or collection of monu- 

 ments, of an unknown race, an unrecorded time, and an 

 unexpressed purpose, existing in this country. These are 

 conical elevations of earthwork standing in the prairies, or 

 sometimes crowned with a grove, of very regular shape, 

 from five to ten feet usually, in height, or sometimes more, 

 and from thirty to fifty or more in diameter, having a circular 

 base. They are usually found in groups or collective 

 ranges, some half dozen or more being placed in line, in con- 

 tact or close contiguity at the bases, extending usually from 

 east to west. By what people constructed, at what time, or 

 with what design, have been involved in doubt. It seems, 

 however, that their design must have been for receptacles for 

 the dead. These monuments are very frequent, and the 



