THOMAS.] CONNECTING LINKS. 689 



This language is peculiar, and, so far as I am aware, can apply to no 

 other mound in Georgia than the large one near Cartersville, Georgia. 

 Nor is this a mere supposition, for my assistants have made careful 

 search throughout northern Georgia, the immediately adjoining portions 

 of South Cai'olina, and eastern Tennessee, without finding any other 

 mound that can possibly answer this description. The words "similar 

 to others we have mentioned" are evidently intended to signify that 

 it was artificial, and this is conceded by all who have noticed the pas- 

 sage: "alto" (high) in the mouths of the explorers indicates something 

 more elevated than ordinary mounds. The roadway or passage-way 

 round about it is peculiar and is the only mention of the kind by auy 

 of the three chroniclers. How is it to be explained? 



Col. C. C. Jones says that this "roadway" was a terrace, but it is 

 scarcely possible that any terrace at the end or side of a mound form- 

 ing an apron-like extension (the only form which has been found in the 

 South), could have been so described as to convey the idea of a road- 

 way, which the mode of e.5timating the width shows was intended. 



As Garcilasso wrote from information and not from personal observa- 

 tion, he often failed to catch from his informant a correct notion of the 

 things described to him. In this case it seems that he understood 

 there was a terrace running entirely around the mound or a roadway 

 winding around from the bottom to the top. The broad way winding up 

 the side of the Etowah mound (see Fig. 183) ajipears to answer the 

 description better than what is seen in any other ancient structure in 

 Georgia. It is broad and ascends at a gentle slope, giving to the 

 observer the idea of a roadway, for which it was evidently intended. 

 It is a large mound, (piite higli, and one that would doubtless arrest 

 the attention of tlie Spanish soldiers. Its dimensions indicate that the 

 tribe by which it was built was strong in numbers and might send 

 forth " 500 warriors " to gi'eet the Spanish adventurers. The locality 

 is also witliin the limits of I)e Soto's route as given by the best authoi'i- 

 ties; and, lastly, there is no other mound within the possible limits of 

 his rcmte which Avill in any respect answer the desci'iption. As Gar- 

 cilasso must have learned of this mound from his informants and 

 described it according to the impression conveyed to his mind, we are 

 Justified in accepting the statement as substantially correct. The agree- 

 ment between the statement and the fact that a mound of the peculiar 

 kind described is tbund in the limited region referred to, would be a 

 remarkable coincidence if the former were not based on the personal 

 observations of the informants. We are therefore fully Justified in 

 believing that the work alluded to by the ohl Spanish author is none 

 other than the great mound on the Etowah river, near Cartersville, 

 Georgia, and that here we can point to one of the Indian villages men- 

 tioned by the chroniclers of the Adelantado's unfortunate expedition. 



If this conclusion be correct, there is no good reason for d(mbting 

 that the Indians were the authors of this, one of the largest mounds 

 12 ETH U 



