THE ST. JOHN'S RIVER, FLORIDA. 233 



We shall now consider the probable source of supply of the copper of the St. 

 John's. 



Mexico. — Of Mexico but little can be said. Native copper is found in various 

 parts of the country, and it is probable that the natives had learned to smelt from 

 superficial carbonates of exceptional purity, the wood of the fire furnishing the 

 carbon. 1 



We are aware that possible means of communication between Mexico and 

 Florida existed before and at the time of the Discovery. We are told by Herrera 2 

 that Columbus found on the Island of Pine Treos, in the Gulf of Honduras, " an 

 Indian Canoe, as long as a Galley, and eight Foot in Breadth, laden with Western 

 Commodities, which it is likely belong'd to the Province of Yucatan'' On board, 

 among various commodities, were " small Hatchets made of Copper to hew Wood, 

 small Bells, and Plates, Crucibles to melt the Copper." 



And again we read that the natives of Yucatan made long sea trips, 3 while 

 Bernal Diaz describes, 4 at the discovery of that province (1517), the approach of 

 canoes with paddles and sails, large enough to hold forty or fifty Indians. 



No copper is found on the peninsula of Yucatan, the most probable point of 

 departure, though we read of copper implements met with on the coast to the west 

 not far distant, 5 and trinkets, half gold and half copper, on the Island of Cozumel 

 but twelve miles away. 6 



It is not likely, however, that the sea offered a method of regular communica- 

 tion between Mexico and Florida, a much more feasible journey being afforded by 

 the overland route taken by Cabeca de Vaca on his escape from northwestern 

 Florida to the Spanish settlements in Mexico. 7 It is interesting to note, moreover, 

 that on this journey he twice saw articles of copper. 



We are of the opinion that a careful investigation of the mounds of Louisiana, 

 Alabama and Georgia will yield other objects such as the copper plates from the 

 famous Etowah mound, whose decoration surely points to Mexico. 



We are indebted to Dr. Joseph H. Hunt for a specimen of native copper 

 obtained at El Paso, said to have been brought in by Mexican miners. A partial 

 analysis showed this to contain O0621 per cent, of silver, but no lead. 



Howard S. Graham, Esq., has kindly presented us with a specimen of crys- 



1 For details as to Mexican copper implements see " Mexican Copper Tools," by Philip J. J. Valentini, 

 Ph.D., Proceedings American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, 1879. 



Also, by the same author, " Semilunar and Crescent-shaped Tools," Proceedings American Antiqua- 

 rian Society, Worcester, 1885. 



Also " Notes on the Copper Objects from North and South America Contained in the Collection of the 

 Peabody Museum," by Professor Putnam, in the XV Annual Report of the Museum. 



2 Herrera, Stevens' Translation, Vol. I, page 259 et seq. 



3 Ibid., Vol. IV, page 135. 



4 "Memoirs of the Conquistador Barnal Diaz del Castillo," translated by Lockhart, London, 1844, 

 Vol. I, Chap. II, page 4. 



5 Bernal Diaz, Vol. I, page 36. 



6 Ibid, Vol. I, pages 56 and 57. 



7 " Narrative of Alvar Nunez Cabeca de Vaca," translated by Buckingham Smith, Washington, 1851. 



