206 UTAH MO UNDS. 



>of the homes of the mound-builders, the busy hard-working toilers of the 

 field apparentlj^ caring little how or when they came here. About two 

 years ago several of the residents whose curiosity had been arrested regard- 

 ing the mounds concluded to exjDlore their interior to see what could be 

 found in the way of relics, and, perhaps, to find the glittering treasure that 

 several spiritual raediunis had said was hidden in one of the mounds. The 

 exj)lorations divulged no hidden treasure so far, but have proved to us that 

 there once undoubtedly existed here a more enlightened race of human be- 

 ings than that of the Indian who inhabited this country, and whose records 

 have been traced back hundreds of years. 



Last year, while engaged in excavating one of the larger mounds, we 

 ■discovered the feet of a large skeleton, and carefully removing the hardened 

 ■earth in which it was embedded, we succeded in unearthing an en-tire skele- 

 ton without injury. The human frame-work measured six feet six inches 

 in length, and, from appearances, it was undoubtedly 5f the male gender. In 

 •the right hand was a huge iron or steel weapon, which had been buried with 

 the body, but which crumbled to pieces on handling. Near the skeleton we 

 ^Iso found pieces of cedar wood, cut in various fantastic shapes, and in a 

 perfect state of preservation, the carving showing that the people of this 

 unknown race were acquainted with the use of edged tools. We also found 

 a large stone pipe, the stem of which was inserted between the teeth of the 

 .skeleton. The bowl of the pipe weighs five ounces, made of sandstone, and 

 the aperture for the tobacco had the appearance of being drilled out. The 

 inhabitants here say a race of people existed here 1,400 years ago, and 

 belonged to a tribe known as the Nephites, who are often referred to in the 

 Book of Mormons, which also speaks of terrible encounters these peoj)le 

 liad with their ancient enemy, the Lamonites. We found another skeleton 

 near that of the above mentioned, which was not quite as large, and must 

 be that of a woman. There was a neatly carved tombstone at the head of 

 -this skeleton. Close by the floor was covered with a hard cement, to all ap- 

 pearances a part of the solid rock, which after patient labor and exhaustive 

 work we succeeded in penetrating, and found it was but the corner of a box 

 similarly constructed, in which we found about three pints of wheat ker- 

 nels, most of which dissolved when brought in contact with the air. A few 

 of the kernels found in the center of the heap looked bright, and retained 

 their freshness on being exposed. These were carefully preserved, and last 

 spring planted and grew nicely, though the field insects seemed determined 

 to devour it. We raised four and a half pounds of heads from these grains^ 

 The wheat is unlike any other raised in this country, and produces a large 

 yield. It is of the club variety — the heads are very long, and hold very 

 large grains. 



We have found many curiosities in the mounds belonging to this ancient 

 Tace once inhabiting this section. We find houses in all the mounds, the 

 rooms of which are as perfect as the daj^ they were built. All the apart- 

 ments are nicely plastered, some in white, others in a red color; crockery- 



