P A T. I S A D E D E N C J. O S U R E S . 63 



PLATE XIII. No. 3. 



ANCIENT WORK OF THE CAYUGAS, LEDYARD TOWNSHIP, CAYUGA COUNTY, 



NEW YORK. 



This work is found about twelve miles southwest ot" Auburn, in the town of 

 Ledyard, Cayuga county. It forms a good illustration of the character of the 

 aboriginal defences. It is situated upon a high point of ground, formed by the 

 junction of two immense ravines, which here sink some hundreds of feet below the 

 table-lands. A narrow spur, hardly wide enough to permit two to walk abreast, 

 extends down to the bottom of the ravines, starting from the extreme point of the 

 head-land. It is still called the " Indian Path," and affords a practicable descent to 

 the water. At every other point the banks are almost if not entirely inaccessible. 

 At some distance inward, extending from the bank of one ravine to the other, was 

 originally a line of palisades. The holes left by their decay are still distinct, each 

 about eight inches in diameter. The position is eminently a strong one, and, 

 under the system of attack practised by the Indians, must have been impregnable. 

 Within the enclosure are to be found caches and other features common to the 

 class of works previously described, and with which this work entirely coincides, 

 except that the embankment is wanting. 



So far as could be ascertained, there is no tradition current respecting this work. 

 Still, as it is known that the principal towns of the Cayugas existed in this vicinity 

 until a very late date, there can be no doubt that this was one of their places of 

 last resort. Very many traces of their former occupancy occur here and along 

 the eastern shores of Cayuga Lake. 



PLATE XIV. No. 1, 



ancient work of the SENECAS, near victor, ONTARIO COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



The site occupied by the work here figured and the country adjacent, derives 

 considerable interest from its historical associations. Recent investigations have 

 satisfactorily determined that the Marquis De Nonville penetrated here in his 

 celebrated expedition against the Senecas, in 1687 ; and there is good reason to 

 believe that the traces at present existing are those of the palisaded fort which 

 was destroyed at that time. They occupy the summit of a high hill, so steep upon 

 most sides as to be ascended only with the greatest difficulty. The line of the 



