PERCH LAKE AND OTHER NEW YORK MOUNDS I J 



A stream enters the lake at the boathouses. South of this and east 

 of the shore is a large and high mound in which digging has been 

 done. In the freshly turned earth no vestiges of early occupation 

 could be seen except black earth and burnt stone. This mound is 

 about 5 feet high and 40 feet across. Common pottery was found 

 in small camps by the shore. Beyond this is another low mound. 

 Probably some in these woods were not observed. 



After leaving the woodland the swamp is soon reached, and some 

 mounds may have been obliterated in the open fields. North of the 

 swamp flows a small rocky stream through these fields. On the brow 

 of the upper terrace, on the north side of this is the largest and 

 deepest mound I saw, measuring 45 feet across. Another is close 

 beside this on the east, and another on higher ground still, in the rear 

 of these and toward the road. On the south side of the stream, 

 farther down and overlooking the water from a high bank, is 

 another small but deep one under a tree. It is a pretty situation. 



A large mound is near a shanty in the sugar camp, toward Ruff's 

 creek. This is 40 feet across and 3 feet high. A good deal of dig- 

 ging has been done there, but seemingly without results. A smaller 

 one is near the shanty. This ended the explorations on that side of 

 the lake. The oldest inhabitant knew of nothing taken from mounds 

 south of the La Farge mansion. In all 54 mounds were observed, 

 and 6 obliterated ones reported, or 60 in all. Other unobserved or 

 obliterated mounds might much increase this number, but it is not 

 likely to reach the higher estimates made for the whole territory. 



At the north end of the lake is one spot deserving of a few words, 

 and yet probably not connected with the general subject. In the edge 

 of the swamp at the northeast angle of the lake, is an immense mass 

 of rock which can be reached by a boat. In some of the depressions 

 of this rock are many small flint chips, showing that it was a favorite 

 spot for arrow makers. What weapons the makers of these mounds 

 used is uncertain, but it is probable that the visitors to Squaw island, 

 as some call it, were of another people. The spot commands a view 

 of nearly the entire lake. 



Dr A. A. German and Oren Pomeroy, of Chaumont, kindly made a 

 close examination of the group I could not visit and with much the 



