EEPOET OF THE SECEETAEY. 13 



vestigatiou of the military, religious, monumental, and organic remains 

 of the ancient inhabitants of Tennessee. An appropriation was made 

 to assist Dr. Jones in an exploration of these ancient remains, and to 

 this work he has devoted an immense amount of labor. The results are 

 presented in a volume which, after considerable abridgment, still con- 

 sists of over 600 folio manuscript pages, requiring about two hundred 

 wood-cuts and a number of plates for its illustration. The work was 

 submitted to Dr. Otis, of the Army Medical Museum, who has given 

 special attention to the subject of ethnology, and on his approval it has 

 been accepted for publication. We think it is a valuable addition to 

 our knowledge of the ancient races which have inhabited this continent, 

 and well worthy of a place in the Smithsonian series of Contributions. 

 The following extract is made from the preface by the author : 



" The explorations and researches were commenced in the early part 

 of 1868, and continued to the close of 1869. In the entire investigation, 

 and in presenting an outline of the explorations and researches, I have 

 endeavored to accomplish two results, viz : the accurate description of 

 the aboriginal remains, and the collection of facts which bear in any 

 manner upon the obscure history of the ancient inhabitants of this 

 region. With the limited means at my command, and with numerous 

 pressing professional duties and cares, I was unable to carry forward 

 the explorations upon the scale which their importance appeared to 

 demand, but it is earnestly hoped that these investigations, however 

 imperfect, will be found an addition to knowledge which may serve as 

 a point of departure for future explorers in this interesting field. They 

 will not be without practical result if they should serve to form a basis 

 for the comparison of the crania and works of art of the races of the 

 stone-age of Tennessee and Kentucky with those of other x^arts of our 

 country and of foreign climes." 

 The following is a brief abstract of the contents of the work : 

 Chafer I. — Inquiries regarding the name and history of the ancient 

 race which inhabited in past ages the fertile valleys of Tennessee and 

 Kentucky, called by early explorers the Chaouanins. 



Chapter II. — Ancient cemeteries. The so-called "mummies" discov- 

 ered in caves. Mode of burial practiced. Stone graves. Inquiry into 

 burial customs of the Indians. 



Chapter III. — Mounds, fortifications, and earth-works. 

 Chapter IV. — Sites of aboriginal towns or encampments surrounded 

 by earth-works. Description of contents of mounds. Indian traditions. 

 Eelations of early explorers and missionaries to the aborigines. 



Chapter V. — Works of art, religious relics, sculptures, paintings, im- 

 plements, weapons, vases, culinary vessels, idols, shell ornaments. 



Chapter YL — Crania of the mound-builders — comparisons with those 

 from Mexico, Europe, &c. Discussion of the causes which led to the 

 rapid depopulation of the American continent after its discovery by 

 Columbus. General conclusions. 



