684 MOUND EXPLORATIOXS. 



grains have been repeatedly tound in mounds and in pits or caebes 

 wliicb appear to be tlie work of tlie " veritable mouiidbuilders." 



Another fact may also be uientioned in this eonnection, whicli, though 

 negative in character, ap])ears to point to the same conclusion. 

 Although metates are, and Iroin time immemorial have been, iu com- 

 mon use among the Central Americans, Mexicans, and Pneblo Indians of 

 New Mexico and Arizona, not one has been found in connection with 

 the ancient works east of the plains; and so far as ascertained only 

 two or three have been found in this entire area. These were dug or 

 plowed up in Missouri not far ti'oni the Missouri river, but without any 

 indications of having i)ertained to the mound l)uilders. Probably 

 tliese may have been brought here by the plain tribes which shifted 

 back and forth from side to side or by the Sjianiards who visited ]\ris- 

 souri at an early day to form an alliance with the Osages.' 



The mound-builders used stone mortars for grinding paint and for 

 other purposes, but none adapted to, or that we can suppose were ordi- 

 narily used for grinding maize have beeu observed. It is therefore 

 more than probable that they made use of the wooden hominy mortar 

 just as the Indians were accustomed to do. 



The marked absence of this useful implement from all the works of 

 the mound builders east of the Kocky mouutaius is a very important 

 fact iu this connection. As it appears to have been used uot only by 

 the cultured but also by most of the wild tribes from New Mexico to 

 the isthmus, and was unknown to th<> mound-builders of tlie Missis- 

 sippi valley, we have in this fact an indication that the people of the 

 two regions were widely distinct from ca(^h other. It affords an argu- 

 ment against the theory which connects the mound-builders and Puelilo 

 tribes, and also against those which <-onnect the former and the Mexican 

 nations. At least it renders doubtful the theory which derives the 

 former from the latter. Coming into a forest- covered region wouhl 

 doubtless cause some change in customs, but this change would not be 

 so sudden as to leave no traces of them. Passing from a forest to a 

 woodless region would of course account for a change of custom in this 

 respect. 



Articles of shell. — There are some marked resemblances in the cus- 

 toms of the two peoples iu regard to the various articles made by them 

 from shells. Several species of large, univalve, maiiue shells were 

 used by the Indians as drinking cups. These were usually prepared 

 for this purpose by removing the columella. Proof of this custom is 

 found iu the statements of several of the earlj- writers. The manner 

 in which thej^ were used is shown in the Brevis Narratio of De Bry, 

 Pis. XIX and xl, and described by Haywood.- The statement of the 

 latter author is as follows : 



Our southern Indians, at the annual i'east of harvest, send to those who are sick 

 at home or unable to come out one of the old couseerated shells full of the sancti- 



' Du Pratz Hist. Louisiana, Enjflish Transl., p. 320 ' Xat. stud Aboriginal Hist. Tenn., p. 158. 



