No. 89.] 49 



chert-stone. Numerous other relics were also found in connection with the works 

 here. A plate of mica, five by seven inches, was exhumed from the mound; stone 

 chisels, axes, etc. One of these implements, which had perhaps been designed for 

 a spade, had a hard sharp edge at each extremity, with an appearance of a groove 

 around the central portion of the relic. Arrowheads were here found, four inches 

 in width by five in length. 



Within the circular enclosure upon the east bank of the Allegany river, various 

 interesting relics have been noticed. Among these were spear-heads, some six 

 inches in length, with double barbs upon each side, and formed from native masses 

 of copper. Knives, which were probably used for the purpose of manufacturing fine 

 fabrics, constructed of hard porphyry and elaborately polished and ornamented, 

 were also found here, together with bone needles, amulets, etc. Fig. 9 represents 

 a copper arrowhead, of fine finish, which was disclosed within the inclosure. It 

 is stated that spearheads, hatchets, etc. of iron, much oxydized by exposure, had 

 been observed within this ancient work. None came to my notice. They may have 

 been obtained during the early intercourse with the Europeans. 



Fig. 10. This gives a view of a Mzdia, the picture or song-writing of the abo- 

 rigines, and is evidently of more recent date than the relics previously described: 

 it had been in possession of the Indians. These pictographs, by which the medical, 

 necromantic and military arts were expressed by ideagraphic signs or totemic sym- 

 bols, formed a part of the ancient Indian mythology — the mystical lore of the 

 priests. All the lines and shadings are drawn in this hieroglyphic writing with 

 remarkable precision and minuteness : much of the elaborate tracery has had to 

 be omitted in the plate. This inscription, or mnemonic writing, represents an ad- 

 vanced state of Indian art. A specimen of cloth, manufactured from the bark of 

 trees, the fibres finely interwoven, and which appeared to have been colored and 

 figured by block-prints, was obtained also from the Indians. 



Fig. 11 represents an image, which had been found near the Allegany river, and 

 is perhaps the most interesting among all the remains of ancient art observed 

 during this exploration. The figure is chiseled from the compact grey sandstone, 

 and is given life size; the facial outline having a length of seven and three-fourths 

 inches, with breadth of six inches : it has a weight of twenty-four pounds. This 

 statue- work certainly could not have been intended to give the physiognomy of any 

 of the vesperic groups. All the features are given with but slight angular projection. 

 It is entirely unlike any of the sculptures which are ascribed to Jthe northern groups 

 of the aboriginal race; far surpassing them in its artistic design, and in its elabo- 

 rate workmanship. The head and all the features have a wide broad outline, well 

 defined, with something of severity in artistic expression : the brow is encircled 

 by a peculiar plaiting of hair like a head-dress, with fanciful knots, or rather raised 

 flower-work, corresponding exactly with the style adopted by the Aztecs. This 

 relic, indeed, has a close resemblance to the image- work of the Aztecs, as found in 

 their ancient temples in the valley of the Anahuac, as figured in " Mexican Ar- 

 chajology" and " History of the Indian Tribes." The image is much blackened, 

 apparently from the action of fire. The work was undoubtedly an idol; one of the 

 many gods in the Indian mythology, and worshipped in the mystical rites per- 

 taining to their religion. I think, in artistic design and execution, it equals any of 

 the ancient image-work even of Toltec and Aztec art, as figured in various works. 

 The art-expression of any people affords an index of their culture or advancement, 

 and this certainly denotes a state far removed from barbarism. 



Mention should have been made that Governor Blacksnake, and other intelligent 

 [Senate No. 89.] 7 



