THOMAS.] ARKANSAS. 243 



moimds. The most iiiterestiiij;' of these is oblouj? in sliape, lectaugu- 

 lar, 125 feet long exchisive of the terrace or ayron-like extension, 65 

 feet broad, and 30 feet high, and resembles the following, shown in 

 Plate IX. It is used by the neighborhood as a burying ground, and 

 hence could not be disturbed. 



rm: dk so to MorNt). 



The mound, which is shown in PI. ix, is on the land of Mr. JI. G. 

 De Priest, 13 miles southeast of Pine Bluff and L'i miles northwest of 

 the Clayton mound, which it resembles in form but exceeds in magni 

 tude. It is 60 feet high at the west end, but somewhat less at the end 

 to which the terrace is attached; the top, which is flat, as represented 

 in the figure, is 14-4 feet long by 110 in width (exclusive of the terrace); 

 back of the mound (from the house) is a large excavation, now a pond, 

 from which the earth was taken for its construction. A part of the top 

 is jilanted in forest trees; the rest is in cultivation. 



It is known in this locality as the "De Soto mound" from current 

 tradition that this distinguished explorer camped here for some time. 



PULAlSKl COUNTY. 

 THK K.NAI-r MOINDS. 



These works form, without doubt, the most intei'esting group in the 

 state, and, in fact, one of the most important in the United States. A 

 plat of the group and surrounding wall is given in PI. x, and a sketch 

 in PI. IX. They are situated on the farm of Mr. Gilbert Kuapp and 

 directly on the east bank of Mound lake, a crescent-shaped bayou, 16 

 miles southeast of Little Rock. 



As seen by reference to the plat, the area inclosed by the wall is 

 oblong, or somewhat oval, the length north and south about 170 rods, 

 and width east and west, SO to 85 rods, containing S5 acres. The wall 

 appears to have formed the defense on three sides, the lake being- 

 relied on for protection on the fourth. 



Tlie lake is 3 miles long and about one-fourth of a mile wide. The 

 field, in which the group is situated, is from 3 to 6 or 8 feet above 

 average water level, and has been under cultivation for more than thirty 

 years. The surrounding earthen wall reaches 5 or 6 feet in height 

 where best preserved, but where most reduced by cultivation is about 

 obliterated. It is a little over a mile in length and starts at the very 

 margin of the lake on the south, circles around the field, aiul comes 

 to the lake again on the north side. It is broken in three places, as 

 shown on the plan. In two places deep trenches, probably of artificial 

 origin, pass through, the wall. They cpntain water for the greater part 

 of the year. The other opening is not complete and may have been 

 cut tor a roadway by the whites. The curve of the nortlieru half of 

 the wall is very even, but near the middle portion there is a slight re- 



