No. 20.] 85 



or the era of the " Mound Builders," whose defensive works, mounds, 

 and sacred enclosures are scattered so profusely throughout the West, 

 especially in the State of Ohio, in which they have their fullest 

 development The remains of this period indicate a semi-civilization 

 of the most imposing character, and also a considerable development 

 of the art of agriculture. Exclusive of the mounds and enclosures, 

 they have left implements of copper and chert, of stone, porphyry 

 and earthen, some of which are elaborately and ingeniously wrought. 

 We have in various parts of our State many trench enclosures, or 

 Fort Hills^ as they are popularly called, which belong to the same 

 era, and to the same system of works as those constructed by the 

 " Mound Builders" of Ohio and the Mississippi valley. Within these 

 enclosures, and in their immediate vicinity, artificial remains are 

 always discovered. 



With the second period, we may in our State connect the name of 

 the Iroquois. It will also include the remains of the fugitive races, who, 

 since the extermination of the " Mound Builders," have displaced each 

 other in succession until the period of the Iroquois commenced. 

 The remains of this last period are extremely rude, and in themselves 

 barren of interest; but as they stand connected with the Iroquois, and 

 illustrate their social condition, they become more attractive. We 

 have reason to regard the Iroquois as the highest exemplification of 

 the Red Man upon the Continent (except the Aztec race of Mexico), 

 so far as we have positive knowledge. We stand with them in 

 many interesting relations. With them terminated the jurisdiction 

 of the Indian over New-York. They were our immediate predeces- 

 sors in the territory, throughout its entire extent from the Hudson to 

 Niagara, and from the St. Lawrence to the Chemung. We still 

 speak their dialects in our geographical names. Their government 

 and institutions were more accurately defined and systematic than 

 those of any other Indian race. Under the League, they acquired a 

 supremacy over cotemporary nations, and produced a class of chiefs 

 and warriors, which together have lifted the Iroquois into a renown 

 which no other Indian race in our Republic ever attained. What 

 memento of this race, whose " Long House" was overthrown to 

 make room for our own political structure, has the State preserved? 

 Where are the visible memorials of their existence and of their oc- 

 cupation? 



The present time which the Regents of the University have selected 

 to lay the foundation of such an Indian Collection, is a most fortu- 

 nate one. Within the past few years the Cabinet of Natural History 

 has been founded, and has grown by natural enlargement into a great 

 public attraction. An Indian Collection would be an interesting 



