CHAPTER V. 



THE CIIEROKEES AND THE TALLEGWI. 



The ancient works of Ohio, with their "altar mounds," "sacred en- 

 closures," and "mathematically accurate" but mysterious circles and 

 squares, are still pointed to as impregnable to the attacks of this Indian 

 theory. That the rays of light falling upon their origin are few and 

 dim, is admitted ; still, we are not left wholly in the dark. 



If the proof be satisfactory that the mounds of the southern half of 

 the United States and a portion of those of the Upper Mississippi Val- 

 ley are of Indian origin, there should be very strong evidence in the 

 opposite direction in regard to those of Ohio to lead to the belief that 

 they are of a diiierent race. Even should the evidence fail to indicate 

 the tribe or tribes by whom the^^ were built, this will not justify the 

 assertion that they are not of Indian origin. 



If the evidence relating to these works has nothing decidedly opposed 

 to the theory in it, then the presumption must be in favor of the view 

 that the authors were Indians, for the reasons heretofore given. The 

 burden of proof is on those who deny this, and not on those who 

 assert it. 



It is legitimate, therefore, to assume, until evidence to the contrary 

 is produced, that the Ohio works were made by Indians. 



The geographical ])Osition of the defensive works connected with 

 these remains indicates, as has been often remarked by writers on this 

 subject, a pressure from northern hordes which finally resulted in driv- 

 ing the inhabitants of the fertile valleys of the Miami, Scioto, and 

 Muskingum, southward, possibly into the Gulf States, where they be- 

 came incorporated with the tribes of that section.' If this is assumed 

 as correct it only tends to couftrui the theory of an Indian origin. 



liut the decision is not left to mere assumption and the indications 

 mentioned, as there are other and more direct evidences bearing upon 

 this point to be found iu the works of art and modes of burial in this 

 region. That the mound-builders of Oliio uuule and used the pipe is 

 proven by the hirge number of i)ipes fouiul in the mounds, and tliat 

 they cultivated tobacco may reasonably be inferred from this fact. 



The general use of the i)ipe among the mound-builders is another 

 evidence of their relation to the Indians; while, on the other hand, 



' Force : " To what race did the inoimd-buiklers belong ? " p. 74, etc. 

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