PERCH LAKE AND OTHER NEW YORK MOUNDS 7 



transported or drift pebble. The only observable difference was a 

 darker color, caused by an increase of decayed organic matter and 

 burned earth. No graves or human bones were observed. No lines 

 of entrenchments were to be seen. Nor have there been any metal 

 objects or utensils found. 



The explanation of the phenomena observed here, that has seem- 

 ingly puzzled several generations of white men, seems to be plain 

 and simple. There is no necessity for bringing farfetched theories 

 to explain the observed facts. Whoever has been to California and 

 noted the singular rings of earth, with their basin-shaped centers, 

 that are known to be the remains of the old rancherias of the Dig- 

 ger Indians, can readily see here in the close resemblances the original 

 forms of Indian houses, belonging to the lower stages of barbarism, 

 and probably a more or less universal style of house belonging to 

 this stage of advancement, usually occupied only during the winter 

 months, or generally deserted for nomad life during the warmer 

 summer months. This style of house was constructed with a frame- 

 work of poles set upon end and meeting at the top, and covered with 

 dirt, leaving an uncovered space at the top to serve for the exit of 

 smoke. 



The writer once visited one of these dirt houses in California, large 

 enough to hold several hundred people, but perhaps not larger than 

 the remains of one of those observed at Perch lake. Professor 

 Thomas has described the remains of similarly constructed houses in 

 Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. . . I have also observed near 

 Burrville, within a strongly fortified enclosure, circles of toadstools 

 that had grown up from organic matters, old bones, etc., buried in 

 the soil, showing that similar round houses once existed within forti- 

 fied enclosures, but unfortunately both ditches and circles are now 

 leveled by the plow. Marvin, p. 58 



I add some notes sent me in October 1901 by Mr Henry Wood- 

 worth, one of the party mentioned, but whose conclusions are dif- 

 ferent. Both these gentlemen are careful observers : 



I visited the mounds with Mr Marvin and Clarence Woodard, and 

 we spent one day at the lower end of the lake, on the south side. We 

 found a very large mound on a ridge in the woods. Some large 

 maple trees were in it. Distance from the lake was 10 or 15 rods. 

 We did the most of our digging in that one, but we dug in others 

 that were hollowed on top, as most of them are. We found but little 

 to pay us for our labor. The ashes and coal that would naturally 

 accumulate were very light. For that reason I think they were occu- 

 pied only for a short time in the summer, for fishing and hunting. If 

 they had been used to winter in, the accumulation would have been 

 much more. I and my son dug some in the mounds on the Gailey 



