2'7^ SCIENTIFIC NF,W3, 



Ancient works tlrat which the editox' of this Journal p\iblished, several ycats 



ia America. •r*-^'-o-r i •■,»o^« 



ago, VIZ. first m ly 87,and agam in 1796- 



Some time ngo, I was in conversation with a Mr. Nathaniel 

 Brittain, living in Mount-Bethel township, on the topic of some 

 of our American antiquities. He told me, that a Mr. Gaston, 

 and another person, whose name I have forgotten, who were 

 formerly his neighbours, had emigrated to some of the western 

 counties of this state (Pennsylvania), and a few years since 

 paid him a visit,^ when he was informed by them, that, at some 

 salt-lick, which afforded a small quantity of brackish water 

 (I think he said on Gaston's land), under a belief, if they were 

 to dig a hole to some depth into the earth, a greater quantity 

 of salt-water might be acquired, they, accordingly, dug down 

 some depth, when they came to the side of a rock, from 

 whence the water seemed to filter ; that on clearing the earth 

 from the rock, they found an old pot (I forgotwether of iron or 

 earth), a shovel, and some tubes, through which the water 

 appeared to have been conveyed. 



At another place, at some flat near a river, a man began to 

 dig a well, and after working to some depth, he came to a 

 large flat stone. This he worked out, and found it to cover 

 an old walled well, with water at the bottom. 



I should think these to be subjects worthy of the inquiry of 

 your friend B*****, and, if the reports were found to be true, 

 they would make a curious addition to his work on American 

 Antiquitcs. 



Mr. JOHN ARNDT. 

 Letter to Mr. John Heckewelder^ 

 dated Easton (Pennsylvania), 

 March l6t/i, 1800. 



* See Observations on certain parts of Natural History, &c.&c. 

 London : 1787 ; — and Papers relative to certain American Antiqui- 

 ties, &c.&c. Philadelphia: 179G. 4ta, 



