126 APPENDIX, 



We must seek elsewhere for the general depositories of the dead of the mound- 

 builders. It has been suggested that the caves of the limestone regions of Ken- 

 tucky and Tennessee were used as sepulchres. Some of these are represented to 

 have contained thousands of bodies, preserved by the natural properties of these 

 caves, clothed in strange fabrics, composed of a coarse species of cloth interwoven 

 with feathers, in fanciful and tasteful patterns, resembling the feather-cloth of 

 Mexico, of which such glowing descriptions were given by the conquerors.* Ex- 

 tensive, however, as these cave depositories may have been, they fail, in view of 



tlirougli before its force was spent. It was about six inches long. Tlie subjects of this mound were 

 doubtless killed in battle and hastily buried. In digging to the bottom of them, we invariably came to a 

 stratum of ashes, from six inches to two feet thick, which rests on the original earth. These ashes contain 

 coals, fragments of brands, and pieces of calcined hones. From the quantity of ashes and bones, and the 

 appearance of the earth underneath, it was evident that large fires must have been kept burniug for several 

 days previous to commencing the mound, and that a considerable number of victims must have been sacri- 

 ficed by burning on the spot." — [Brown's Oazetteer of the West, p. 58.) 



" That some of the mounds served for tombs, we have the conclusive evidence that they abound in 

 human bones. It has often been asserted, that some of the mounds are full of bones that are perforated, 

 as though the hving subjects were slain in battle ; and that the skeletons are heaped together in promis- 

 cuous confusion, as if buried after a conflict, without order or arrangement. The bones which we have 

 seen were such, and so arranged, as might be expected in the common process of solemn and deliberate 

 inhumation." — {Flint.) 



"The vulgar opinion has been circulated by various writers, that under these mounds were bmied the 

 bodies of those who were slain in battle. They probably pertained to the particular tribe of a country, 

 and were restricted to the principals among them ; for it is not to be supposed that the inhabitants were indis- 

 criminately buried under tumuli. Their burial-places must be sought elsewhere."' — {Sir Richard C. Hoare, 

 on the Barrows of Great Britain.) 



* The nitrous caves of Kentucky were found to contain a considerable number of desiccated human 

 bodies ; they were termed mummies, and, for a time, created much speculation. They were generally 

 enveloped in skins, in a species of bark, or in feather-cloth, and placed in a squatting posture. It is said that 

 hundreds of these were taken from a cave near Lexington, and burned by the early settlers. The bodies 

 appear to have owed their preservation entirely to natural causes. It has been inferred, from the resem- 

 blance between the envelopes of these bodies and the feather-cloths of Mexico, that the people who thus 

 deposited their dead were very ancient, and probably an offshoot from Mexico. We have, however, abun- 

 dant evidence to show that fabrics of this kind were manufactui-ed by the Southern Indian tribes. The 

 chronicler of Soto's expedition reports ha\dng found " a great many mantles made of white, red, green, and 

 blue feathers, very convenient for the wmter." Du Pratz also describes this feather fabric as of common 

 use ; and Adair observes : " They likewise make turkey-feather blankets, twisting the inner end of the 

 feathers very fast in a double, strong thread of the inner bark of the mulbeny," etc. — {Am. Inds., p. 423.) 

 In May, ] 835, a cavern cemetery was discovered on the banks of the Ohio River, opposite Steubenville. 

 It was thirty or forty feet in chcumference, and filled with human bones. " They were of all ages, and 

 had been thrown in indiscriminately after the removal of the flesh. They seemed to have been deposited 

 at diflierent periods of time, those on the top alone being in a good state of preservation." — {Morton's 

 Crania Ameiicana, p. 235.) Dr. Morton regards these remains as of no great age, and as undoubtedly 

 belonging to individuals of the barbarous tribes. 



A similar cave was discovered, some years ago, at Golconda, on the Ohio River, llhnois. It contained 

 many skeletons. — {Crania Am., p. 234.) Henry, in his travels, mentions a cave in the island of Mackinaw, 

 in Lake Huron, the floor of which was covered with himian bones. He expresses the opinion that it was 

 formerly filled with them, 'ihe Indians knew nothing concerning the deposite ; our author, nevertheless, 

 ventures the conjecture, that the cave was an ancient receptacle of the bones of prisoners sacrificed at the 

 Indian war-feasts. " 1 have always observed," he continues, " that the Indians pay particular attention to 



