GREAT INDIAN CEMETERIES OF THE WEST. 127 



the abundant evidences of a vast ancient population, to answer the question, What 

 became of the dead of the ancient people ? In Tennessee, as well as in Kentucky 

 and Missouri, extensive cemeteries have been discovered. For a description of 

 some of those of Tennessee, the public are indebted to Prof Troost, of Nashville. 

 — ( Trans. Am. Ethnol. Soc, Vol. I., p. 358.) One is mentioned by him in the 

 immediate vicinity of that town, which is about a mile in length, and of indefinite 

 breadth. No less than six others equally extensive are found within a radius of 

 ten miles. The graves are lined with flat stones, and occur in ranges. Within 

 these, skeletons much decayed are found, also various relics, some of which are 

 recognised as identical with those found in the mounds of Ohio, suggesting a 

 common origin. This identity is further indicated, though not established, by 

 the presence of mounds and other structures in the vicinity of these cemeteries. 

 Beads, composed of perforated shells, of the genus Marginella, were discovered by 

 Dr. Troost in the graves. These have been found in both the sepulchral and 

 sacrificial mounds north of the Ohio ; as have also beads and other ornaments, 

 made probably from the columella of the sirombus gigas, similar to those found by 

 this explorer in the graves above mentioned. How far these coincidences may be 

 traced, can only be determined when the same mind which has investigated one 

 class of remains shall be able to investigate the other. 



Near Sparta, in Tennessee, are several extensive cemeteries, in which the bones 

 of the dead were deposited, enclosed in short coffins or boxes, made of flat stones. 

 These coffins measure about two feet in length and nine inches in depth. A small, 

 rude, earthen vessel, accompanied by some small shells, is usually found near the 

 head of each skeleton. — {Feather stonhaugh^s Trav., p. 48.) Similar burial-places 

 are found in Missouri, particularly in the vicinity of the Marimec River. The 



the bones of sacrifices, preserving them unbroken, and depositing them in some place exclusively appro- 

 priated to the purpose." — (Travels, p. 111.) 



In the State of Durango, Mexico, some cave depositories have been discovered, which have given rise 

 to very exaggerated accounts. Some of them have represented that as many as a million of bodies were 

 found in a single cavern. All the information which we have, that can be regarded as authentic, is 

 contained in Dr. VVislizenus's Memoir of the Expedition under Doniphan, published by order of Congress, 

 p. 69. After crossing the Rio Nasas, we arrived at San Lorenzo. " On the right hand, or south of us, 

 was a chain of limestone hills running parallel to the road. At the foot of a hill belonging to the chain, 

 Seiior de Gaba pointed out a place to me where, some years ago, a remarkable discovery had been made. 

 In the year 1838, a Mexican, Don Juan Flores, perceived the hidden entrance to a cave. He entered, and 

 found nearly one thousand well preserved Indian corpses, squatted together on the ground, with their 

 hands folded below their knees. They were dressed in fine blankets, made of the fibres of lechuguilla, 

 Avith sandals made of a species of liana, and were ornamented with colored scarfs, with beads of seeds of 

 fruits, polished bones," etc. This is a very insufficient account of this mysterious burying-place. The 

 Mexicans supposed it belonged to the Lipans, an old Indian tribe which from time immemorial has roved 

 and still roams over the Bolson de Mahimi. I had heard at Chihuahua of this discovery, and was fortu- 

 nate enough to secure a skull which had been taken from the cave." 



Amono- the South American nations, cave-burial seems to have been common. Humboldt describes a 

 cave-sepulchre of the Atures, which he discovered on the sources of the Orinoco. It contained nearly six 

 hundred skeletons, regularly arranged in baskets and earthen vases. Some of tlie skeletons had been 

 bleached, others painted, and all, it is worthy of remark, had been deposited after the removal of the 

 flesh. 



