TEMPLE MOUNDS. 221 



or oblong, they have invariably flat or level tops, of greater 

 or less area." These mounds much resemble the Teocallis of 

 Mexico, and had probably a similar origin. They are rare 

 in the North, though examples occur even as far as Lake 

 Superior, but become more and more numerous as we pass 

 down the Mississippi, and especially on approaching the 

 Gulf, where they constitute the most numerous and im- 

 portant portion of the ancient remains. Some of the largest, 

 however, are situated in the North. One of the most re- 

 markable is at Cahokia, in Illinois. This gigantic mound is 

 stated to be seven hundred feet long, five hundred feet wide at 

 the base, and ninety feet in height. Its solid contents have 

 been roughly estimated at twenty millions of cubic feet. 



Probably, however, these mounds were not used as tem- 

 ples only, but also as sites for dwellings, especially for those 

 of the chiefs. We are told that among the Natchez Indians 

 " the temples and the dwellings of the chiefs were raised 

 upon mounds, and for every new chief a new mound and 

 dwelling were constructed." Again, Grarcilego de la Vega, 

 in his History of Florida, quoted by Mr. Haven,* says 

 " The town and house of the Cacique of Osachile are similar 

 to those of all other caciques in Florida, and, therefore, it 

 seems best to give one description that will apply generally 

 to all the capitals, and all the houses of the chiefs in Florida. 

 I say, then, that the Indians endeavour to place their towns 

 upon elevated places ; but because such situations are rare in 

 Florida, or that they find a difficulty in procuring suitable 

 materials for building, they raise eminences in this manner. 

 They choose a place to which they bring a quantity of earth, 

 which they elevate into a kind of platform two or three pikes 

 in height (from eighteen to twenty-five feet), of which the 

 flat top is capable of holding ten or twelve, fifteen or 

 twenty houses, to lodge the cacique, his family, and suite.f 

 * I.e. p. 57. f See also Schoolcraft, I.e. vol. iii. p. 47. 



