THE MISSOURIUM. 13 
pressed together that it resembled pudding stone; the next ~ 
was a layer of light blue clay, from 3 to 4 feet in thickness: 
on this was another stratum of gravel, of the same thickness 
and appearance of the one first mentioned; this was succeeded 
by a layer of yellowish clay, from 2 to 3 feet in thickness; 
over this, a third layer of gravel, of the same appearance and 
thickness; and, at last, the present surface, consisting of 
a brownish clay, mingled with a few pebbles, and covered with 
large oak, maple, and elm trees, which were as near as I could 
ascertain, from 80 to 100 years old. In the centre of the 
aboye mentioned deposite was a large spring which appeared 
to rise from the very bowels of the earth, as it was never 
affected by the severest rain, nor did it become lower by the 
longest drought. 
About 200 yards from said deposite stands a singularly 
formed rock, which not only bears the appearance, but can be 
considered asa monument of great antiquity, formed by nature, 
against whose rough and rugged sides can be distinctly traced, 
in deep and furrowed lines, the former course of angry waters ; 
yet its summit is full 30 feet above the present level of the 
Pomme de Terre. The rock has the appearance of a pillar, 
on whose top rests a table rock far projecting over on every 
side; from the base of the pillar to the lower edge of the 
table is 30 feet, and from the base down to the deposite of the 
bones, is 16 feet—making, from the stratum on which the 
bones were deposited to the edge of the table 46 feet. 
By a minute and close examination, I found that the forma- 
tion of the said rock, as it now appears, was produced by the 
long action of the river against and around it; and had the 
river continued to act with the same force for one or two 
hundred years longer, the pillar would have been so far worn 
away, that the table must have fallen. It now stands as an 
indisputable witness, that the water, at the time these animals 
existed, was at least 46 feet in depth. 
INDIAN TRADITIONS, 
It is perfectly true that we cannot with any degree of cer- 
tainty, depend on Indian traditions; but it is equally true that 
