22 THE MISSO UEI MO UND B UILDERS. 



tinents of the East, nearly all of the accessible natural caverns containing 

 human and animal remains intermingled in relations indicating permanent 

 occupancy. As time advanced, the natural caverns became insufficient to 

 supply the wants of the increasing human race, and necessity suggested 

 the erection of shelter in imitation of the architecture suggested by nature, 

 and if we find semi-civilized, and even civilized, nations pursuing the same 

 style of architecture for ages together, we need not wonder at primitive 

 man pursuing the same rude style for many successive ages. The race 

 associated with the mounds must have been much more numerous than we 

 find resting in them, and but comparatively few could have been interred. 

 It is probable, from the situations in which the remains are found, covered 

 with clay at no greater depth than the plane of the floor of the chamber, 

 that successive interments, after the soft parts of the body had decayed, 

 were made while the chamber was occupied as a dwelling, and so near the 

 surface of the floor that the bones were sometimes reached by the domestic 

 fire, as I saw illustrated in mound number five. If it is objected that this 

 intimate relation between the living and the dead is strained and unnatural, 

 we must remember that those for whom such relation is claimed did not 

 scruple at feasting upon their fellow man and scattering his bones around 

 the domestic hearth ; for the animal bones and the human bones found in= 

 termingled with the ashes and other debris of the floor of the chamber were 

 perhaps only the remains of the ordinary family repast. 



The absence of any implements in the mounds would indicate that our 

 mound builders had no religious ideas, or if they had a religious belief, 

 that they neglected to provide for their friends on their long journey to the 

 spirit land, and for their future abode in that aboriginal Elysium. It is not 

 probable that captives and slaves would be sacrificed to accompany the de- 

 parted spirit without also providing him implements for use in the chase, in 

 his far away spirit home. But in rejecting this poetic idea, we must adopt 

 one which, though less pleasing, is more practicable, and though it may be 

 revolting to our cultivated sensibilities, form the reluctant conclusion that 

 our mound builders were a race of cannibals. But 



" Ye, wliose hearts are fresh and simple, 



Who have faith in God and nature, 



Who believe that in all ages 



Every human heart is human, 



That in every savage bosom 



There are longings, yearnings, strivings 



For the good they comprehend not," 

 may spread the veil of charity over the rude past. 



