Among the mound Builders' Remains 



I. Opening of a Mound at St. Andrew's 

 Red River 



(October, 1879.) 



In the City of Winnipeg, near Fort Garry, there was form- 

 erly to be seen a circular mound. Another exists on the second 

 river-terrace, on the banks of Red River, some twelve miles to 

 the north of the foregoing. About two miles above the town 

 of Selkirk, on the east bank of the river, a third mound has 

 been observed, while two miles from Winnipeg, on the banks 

 of the Assiniboine, another could at one time be seen. The 

 mound which we shall describe is situated on the west bank 

 of the Red River, about seventeen miles north of Winnipeg. 



Most of these mentionel have the following features : — 



1. On a prominent point along the river system of the 

 country. 



2. Circular. 



3. Range from 50 to 150 feet in diameter. 



4. Generally some six to ten feet in depth at the deepest 

 part. 



Much speculation is naturally rife as to the origin, date of 

 construction, and object of these mounds. The mounds found 

 in America farther south, such as those on the Ohio river, and 

 built in the form of a serpent, a bird or a fox, and hundreds 

 of yards in length, have plainly been for defence in time of 

 war. The general current of opinion in regard to the circular 

 mound is, that sepulture was its purpose. The hope of finding 

 something as to the social condition, habits and life of the 

 aborigines of the country, draws many of an inquiring dis- 

 position to take an interest in searching these mounds. The 

 archaeologist, too, finds a subject of study in the mound, in- 

 asmuch as it speaks to him of a race having the building 

 faculty — a faculty which seems to be seldom found among 

 the Indians of the continent in the present day. The tumulus 



