ANTHROPOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 103 



five roots, once known as Tuckahoe; an analysis, one of 

 these showing that it was nutritive ; ten Indian synonyms, 

 and an analysis of Tuckahoe. 



Indian Mounds in the Shenandoah Valley. 

 By E. R. REYNOLDS. 



Mr. Reynolds read a paper on an Indian Mound, nine 

 miles southwest of Luray, in the Valley of the South Shen- 

 andoah. The mound is situated at the eastern base of the 

 Massaunutton Mountain, on the farm of Mr. Phillip Long. 

 It was, according to Kercheval, originally about twelve or 

 fourteen feet high by thirty feet in diameter. It is now but 

 two and a half feet high. In opening the mound a stratum 

 of hard, fire-baked clay was found at the bottom, on which 

 reposed the remains of the Indian to whose memory the 

 mound was erected. Around the remains were found a large 

 and miscellaneous collection of ornaments and weapons, 

 many of which were seriously injured by the cremation fire. 



THIRTY-FIRST REGULAR MEETING. 



December 7, 1880. 



Superstitions. 

 By A. S. GATSCHET. 



This phase of the human mind manifests itself in so many 

 ways that the definitions given by Webster and others do 

 not cover the whole ground. It is a belief in a known or 

 unknown physical power operating within us or outside of 

 us, and having a supernatural influence upon our bodies 

 or our minds, in such a manner that the future may be fore- 

 seen and its events controlled. 



The causes of superstition are egotism and the instinct of 

 self-preservation. The forces of nature and its phenomena 



