44 



MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



Col. Norris's measurement, is 2,.380 feet, the wall varying in Leiglit from 

 a few inches to 4 feet. It has two well-marked and distinct openings, 

 or gateways, one at the north, the other at the southeast, besides 

 smaller and less evident ones. In the southern half is mound No. 9, 

 heretofore mentioned. 



The crescent-shaped embankments, which are roughly sketched in 

 tlie figure, are about half a mile east of the large inclosure. They are 

 simply earth embankments of slight elevation and are possibly parts of 

 unfinished works. 





X 





% 



'*%-. 



^i">"^i. 





Ni;;;i?«aias;sJ 







\ 



wr— ^-i — B. 



/ 



/ 



Smooth 



W^^f% 





i/^ 



tralrie 



Fig. 4. — Inclosnres aud luoiinds, Pipestone county, MinDesota. 



^y 



After having recounnitered distiiut marks of a buil'alo path, we unexpectedly fell 

 upon a circular breastwork of about 2,000 feet in circumference and sufficiently ele- 

 vated to protect the bodies of those who are defending themselves within. The 

 principal entrance is .still marked by the places where the chiefs or principal person- 

 ages of the nation had their lodges, the situation of these always indicating not 

 only the main access to the caniii but also the direction whence the enemy was 

 advancing. 



Two miles further on, accordingly, we met with another camp of a similar eliarac- 

 ter. As the system of defense was on neither side more complicated than .just 

 described, it would seem that they had becu erected during a long talk the result of 

 which might lead to a war; whilst the small number of tumuli that are found 

 withiu the breastwork would seem to imply that both parties remained in jiresence 

 for some time, though there was uo important l)attle fought. 



The Sioux have lost the reminiscences of these camps, aud merely conjecture that 

 they were occupied during the settlement of difficulties between the Tetons and 

 Yanktons. 



Col. Norris thinks he saw in 1842 the second inclosure mentioned by 

 Nicollet, but did not find it in 1882. 



