I 



124 General r arsons' Discovencs in the Western Coimtrf/ 



left resting 



ance. They appear at first, by accident, to be 

 tlie stones; and the water exuding from the adjoining bank, 

 falls gently on the stones; and glides almost imperceptibly 

 over them, and brings with it some adhesive quality, which 

 slightly fixes the resting body to the stone on which it lies ; 

 and an external incrustation is first formed around the bo- 

 dy ; whence the petrifaction is continued, till the whole 

 mass becomes a perfect stone, retaining fully its original 

 shape. It is evident, that the stone, on which these petrifi- 

 ed vegetables are formed, is also a vegetable ; and grows up 

 about the resting body, until in some instances the stone per- 

 fectly covers it. We were obliged in many instances to 



J- 



make use of picks, to break the stone or rock to a depth of 

 several inches, to sever the petrified body from it. Whether 

 the matter possessing this petrifying quality is known, or 

 can be discovered, and separated from other earth, so as to 

 become useful as a cement or otherwise, I will not pretend 

 to assert. 



In this country I was informed, that pieces of earthen 

 ware, the common utensils of a family, are often dug out 

 of the earth, some feet under the surfiice ; and at Muskin- 

 gum, in digging the trenches for their pickets, a number 

 of pieces and one entire brick, were found buried two or 

 three feet deep. Not thinking it proper to open the mounds 

 of earth, supposed to contain the bones of the dead, whilst 

 the Indians were in treaty with us ; I desired the command- 

 ing officer, to open them at the Miami, after the Indians had 

 gone ; and also left the same request at Muskingum, with an 



officer 



\ 



