306 



The Mound, described by Professor Forshey, is found about nine 

 miles north-east from the city of Natchez, Mississippi, upon the most 

 elevated portion of that comparatively low and level region. It is 

 approached on all sides by a slope. The elevation of its base above 

 the mean level of the waters of the Mississippi, at Natchez, is esti- 

 mated at 265 feet, and the greatest height of the Mound above the 

 earth, 84 feet. The whole elevation above the waters of the river 

 348 feet, giving to the spectator a clear horizon of 150 degrees, em- 

 bracing, in that flat region, a rich and extended prospect. 



The Mound is an irregular artificial elevation of earth, varying, in 

 its general line, from 40 to 46 feet, in height, and encloses an area of 

 about seven acres inclusive of the ground covered by its base. On 

 the surface of the general Mound are erected, at irregular intervals, 

 15 smaller Mounds, one of which is 38 feet in height, and the re- 

 maining 14 varying from 4 to 12 feet in height. The Mound con- 

 sists of clay, with some admixture of earth, and its sides seem to 

 have been faced with rudely formed brick, made from the adjacent 

 clay. The bricks are found after digging to the depth of some 12 or 

 15 inches into the embankment. The western front is ascended by 

 two causeways, which are distinctly marked, and are found one at 

 each angle of the Mound. At the eastern extremity is another cause- 

 way entrance to the enclosure, and near to this entrance, and outside 

 the embankment, may be traced, for some distance, an ancient fosse. 

 The three causeways are of easy ascent, and wide enough for the in- 

 troduction of burthens. Upon the north and south sides of the great 

 Mound, and at points nearly opposite to each other, covered entrances 

 or archways were constructed, but they are now so obstructed as to 

 be difficult of examination. Before the forest was cleared by civilized 

 culture, tradition relates that extensive avenues reached north, south, 

 east, and west, thus affording, from the elevation of the great Mound, 

 a most attractive prospect. 



The result, of the partial examinations made, shows that portions 

 of the Mound were used as places of interment by the Indians. The 

 cranium secured by Prof. Forshey was of the tribe of Flatheads. 



Earthen vessels of rude construction, and probably used frequently 

 as receptacles for the remains of those interred, or as mementos at 

 their funeral obsequies, are found. Various objects from the Mound 

 have reached the Lyceum at Natchez. 



The Committee, consisting of Mr. Lea, Dr. Hays, and Mr. 

 Ord, to whom was referred a communication, entitled "Re- 



