38 ANTIQUITIES OP WISCONSIN. 



and ninety-three acres, with a coast line of four miles and three eighths. It is a 

 fine sheet of pure water, with banks sufficiently elevated to present a pictu- 

 resque and beautiful scene; and, at the time of our visit (July 4, 1850), the 

 neighboring inhabitants were enjoying a sail upon its smooth surface. It has a 

 prominent cape jutting in from the south, giving variety to the appearance of the 

 shore ; and glimpses of farm-houses, seen through the trees on the bank, show that 

 this lovely spot is a favorite place with the modern civilized, as it was with the 

 ancient barbarous people. Nature touches chords in the human heart that vibrate 

 alike in the breasts of all, however different their conditions of life. 



Bark river is a considerable tributary of Kock river, entering it at Fort Atkin- 

 son. Towards its source are some remains deserving notice. The most extensive 

 group is on the fine level prairie at Summit, represented on Plate XXX. This 

 plain has an elevation of about three hundred feet above Lake Michigan, is very 

 fertile, the soil being two feet deep, and based upon an extensive bed of white lime- 

 stone, gravel, and sand. It is bordered on all sides by small but very beautiful and 

 picturesque lakes. Some prominent points of the series of hills passing through 

 the State can be seen towards the southeast from this plain. 



The mounds are circular and oblong, with occasionally one of imitative form ; but 

 nearly all have been ploughed over, so that it is now quite impossible to trace their 

 exact outlines. One appears to have had the bird form. There are one or two 

 resembling lizards, and several of them turtles. Two of the latter were here found 

 with the head in a northerly direction, being on the south side of the lakes ; show- 

 ing that the object was to direct the head towards the water, rather than towards 

 the south. (See Plate XXIX.) Several are simple ridges, gradually diminishing 

 from one end to the other, and may be intended to represent the serpent ; they do 

 not difier from the tails of the turtles and lizards. One of unusual length was 

 noticed near the line between sections fourteen and fifteen. 



On the southwest quarter of section fourteen, is a natural elevation, formed, pro- 

 bably, by a ledge of limestone beneath, on which is a group of four mounds — two 

 oblongs, one lizard, and oneturtle; the feet of the latter appeared to have been 

 curved forward. They were much effaced by cultivation. 



Several mounds had been opened, but I could not learn that any discoveries of 

 interest had been made; nor have any articles of importance been thi'own up by 

 the plough. In such cases we may suppose that the place was not abandoned, or 

 the people drawn ofl" in haste; but that they had time to gather up and remove all 

 light articles. 



A short distance above Hartland, on the east side of Bark river, immediately 

 north of the burying-ground, is a series of oblong mounds, one of which is enlarged 

 at the extremities and in the middle, as shown in the figure. (Plate XXXI, No. 1.) 

 This appears to be a form intermediate between the plain oblong and the more 

 elaborate animal-shaped mounds. The turtle at the northern extremity of this 

 group is nearly destroyed by the road. These works are on the southeast quarter 

 of section twenty-six, township eight, range eighteen. 



Two miles and a half further up the river, at the village of Merton (northeast 

 quarter of section twenty-four, township eight, range eighteen), are a number of 



