H. A. Chase—Indian Mounds on the Coast of Oregon. 27 
between the Indians and the white settlers.) The particular 
section of coast referred to was depopulated after the great war of 
1856, called the Rogue River war. The coast tribes generally 
participating in this were either destroyed by the enraged set- 
tlers, or at the conclusion of the fight transferred to the different 
reservations by the General Government. ey have, however, 
left behind them relics of ages of occupancy of favorite haunts, 
which offer an opportunity to trace their gradual improvement 
from remote times and their after decline as the influence of the 
whites became general. 
These relics are in the shape of mounds, consisting of the 
debris of many years, perhaps centuries, of occupation, and the 
stone and other implements found in their graves. The tradi- 
tions of the few Indians still remaining, and the stories told the 
first settlers, all point to the fact that a constant state of preda- 
tory warfare went on between the different tribes in the early 
times. The chief of a class or family, then, in selecting a spot 
for his encampment, would have several points in view. First 
security from a sudden surprise on the part of inimical tribes ; 
whence he would select some prominent knoll or hill which 
' would offer a view both up and down the coast, and be 
far enough away from the forest to prevent an ambush. Second, 
a Supply of food and water ; not difficult to find, since the rocky 
A. as finally, the acorn of the chesnut oak, (“ Quercus densi- 
ora,”) and the nut of the laurel, (“‘Oreodaphne Californica,”) 
were also used. 
Wherever, then, we find a prominent knoll commanding a 
800d view, with a sand beach near it, and outlying rocks, we find 
the remains of the Indian occupancy. Passionately attached to 
& Spot once chosen, especially after any of the tribe had been 
juried there, they would live and die on their mound, never 
venturing farther from it than was necessary to procure food. 
‘ At first it is probable that their habitations were holes dug 
n the ground, and covered over with brush or drift wood ; these 
pere afterward improved by puncheons, or rough-hewn seme 
ar an 
