CHAPTER II. 



ANCIENT WORKS IN THE BASIN OF THE TISHTAKA. RIVER. 



This stream is usually called Fox River; but, to distinguish it from the numerous 

 other rivers of the same name, it is necessary to call it the Fox River^ of the 

 Illinois. It originates in the northeastern part of Waukesha County, and runs in 

 a southerly direction through the western part of Racine and Kenosha counties 

 into Illinois. It thence passes by way of the Illinois River into the Mississippi. 

 Within the State of Wisconsin its basin covers an area of nine hundred and forty- 

 five square miles. 



The ancient works in the valley of the Pishtaka extend as far down as to the 

 place where Major Long and his party crossed it, a little north of west from Chicago. 

 "At this point," says the narrator, "the river has a fine gravelly bottom, and was 

 very easily forded. On the west side we reached a beautiful but small prairie, 

 situated on a high bank, which approaches within two hundred and fifty yards of 

 the edge of the water ; and upon this prairie we discovered a number of mounds, 

 which appear to have been arranged with a certain degree of regularity. Of these 

 mounds we counted twenty-seven. They vary from one to four feet and a half in 

 height, and from fifteen to twenty-five in length ; their breadth is not proportioned 

 to their length, as it seldom exceeds six or eight feet. They are placed at unequal 

 distances, which average about twenty yards, and are chiefly upon the brow of the 

 hill ; but some of them stand at a greater distance back. Their form appears to 

 have been originally oval ; and the slight depression in the ground observed some- 

 times on both sides of the mound, seems to indicate that it has been raised by 

 means of the earth collected in its immediate vicinity. Of their artificial nature 

 no doubt could be entertained."" 



About a dozen localities are known along this stream and its branches, within the 

 limits of Wisconsin, at which mounds have been erected by tlie ancient occupants 

 of the country. Near the southern boundary of the State are a few works, as on 

 the northwest side of Silver Lake, in the town of Salem (section eight, township 

 one, range twenty), where there are some burial mounds; and a little north of the 

 road (southwest quarter of southeast quarter of section five, township one, range 

 twenty) are two oblong mounds, which, from their position, are supposed to be 



» It is said that the Indians called all rivers with numerous short bends by this name, from the 

 resemblance of their course to that of a fox when pursued. 



» Narrative of an Expedition to the Source of the St. Peter's River, &c., 1. 176. Philadelphia, 1824. 



