Rocky Mountain*. 59 



throughout the season, prefer the waters of this spring to 

 those of the creek in whose bed it rises, and may be seen 

 daily coming in great numbers, from distant parts of the 

 prairie, to drink of it. 



Tumuli, and other remains of the labours of nations of In- 

 dians that inhabited this region many ages since, are re- 

 markably numerous about St. Louis. Those tumuli imme- 

 diately northward of the town, and within a short distance 

 of it, are twenty-seven in number, of various forms and 

 magnitudes, arranged nearly in a line from north to south. 

 The common form is an oblong square, and they all stand 

 on the second bank of the river. The statement given be- 

 low of their forms, magnitudes, and relative positions, is the 

 result of actual admeasurement taken with care, and with 

 as much accuracy as their present indefinite boundaries, to- 

 gether with the dense growth of underwood, covering their 

 surface and tending to beguile and obstruct the vision of the 

 observer, will admit. 



It seems probable these piles of earth were raised as ce- 

 meteries, or they may have supported altars for religious 

 ceremonies. We cannot conceive any useful purpose to which 

 they can have been applicable in war, unless as elevated sta- 

 tions from which to observe the motions of an approaching 

 enemy ; but for this purpose a single mound would have been 

 sufficient, and the place chosen, would probably have been 

 different. 



Nothing like a ditch, or an embankment, is to be seen about 

 any part of these works.* 



* What we have called base in the following statement is in reality the 

 length of a line passing over the top of the mound, from the termination 

 of the base each side. 



The numbers refer to a draft. The heights are estimated, with the ex- 

 ception of two. 



No. 2. A square with a hollow way, gradually sloping to the top ; or, in 

 other words, a hollow square open behind. 



Base ...-.--50 feet, 



Height 5 



Distance N. from the Spanish bastion, - 259 



