hy E. Cornelius, 323 



yards, when, through the thick forest trees, a stupendous pile 

 met the eye, whose dimensions were in full proportion to the 

 intrenchment. 1 had at the time no means of taking an accu- 

 rate admeasurement. To supply my deficiency, I cut a long 

 vine, which was preserved until I had an opportunity of ascer- 

 taining its exact length. In this manner I found the distance 

 from the margin of the summit to the base, to be one hundred 

 and eleven feet. And judging from the degree of its declivity, 

 the perpendicular height cannot be less than seventy-five feet. 

 The circumference of the base, including the feet of three 

 parapets, measured one thousand one hundred and fourteen 

 feet. One of these parapets extends from the base to the sum- 

 mit, and can be ascended, though with difficulty, on horseback. 

 The other two, after rising thirty or forty feet, terminate in a 

 kind of triangular platform. Its top is level, and at the time I 

 visited it, was so completely covered with weeds, bushes, and 

 trees of most luxuriant growth, that I could not examine it as 

 well as I wished. Its diameter, I judged, must be one hundred 

 and fifty feet. On its sides and summit, are many large trees 

 of the same description, and of equal dimensions with those 

 around it. One beach-tree, near the top, measured ten feet 

 nine inches in circumference. The earth on one side of the 

 tree, was three and a half feet lower than on the opposite side. 

 .This fact will give a good idea of the degree of the mound's 

 declivity. An oak, which was lying down on one of the para- 

 pets, measured at the distance of six feet from the butt, with- 

 out the bark, twelve feet four inches in circumference. At a 

 short distance to the southeast is another mound, in ascending 

 which I took thirty steps. Its top is encircled by a breast- 

 work three feet high, intersected through the middle with 

 another elevation of a similar kind. A little farther is another 

 mound, which 1 had not time to examine. 



On these great works of art, the Indians gazed with as much 

 curiosity as any white man. I inquired of the oldest chief, if 

 the natives had any tradition respecting them ; to which he 

 answered in the negative. I then requested each to say what 

 he supposed was their origin. Neither could tell : though all 

 agreed in saying ; " they were never put up by our people." 



