1881.] Proceedings of Scientific Socteties. 685 
neighborhood of the rivers. They were a people entirely distinct 
from the North American Indians, as we know them, had occupied 
the country in much earlier times than the latter, and were entifely 
unknown to them, even by tradition. 
Like the modern Indians they were of different tribes ; but less 
warlike and less nomadic, more domestic in their habits; yet their 
dwellings must have been of the most imperfect and perishable 
character, no traces of them being found. 
They practiced cremation, though but to a limited extent, and 
only upon great and unusual occasions. : 
They lived in a very simple manner, possessed few mechanical 
contrivances, but were a laborious, pains-taking people. That they 
had some system of barter with neighboring tribes at least (though 
perhaps limited to mere occasional exchanges as opportunity 
offered) is shown by the occurrence in the mounds of large sea 
shells, which, at the nearest must have come from the Gulf of 
Mexico; obsidian which must be from the far west, mica, not to 
be found in this region; galena, &c. : 
opper was evidently a rare and highly valued article among 
them; its rarity seems to indicate that they at least did not work 
the copper mines of Lake Superior or anywhere, and were not 
much in communication with any people who did. 
Small nuggets of drift copper are still occasionally found here, 
perishable character, more so even than the pottery which is 
exceedingly common. : 
If cast in molds, many would be made of identical size and 
form, whereas no duplicates are ever found. : : 
If, as has been argued, though I believe on very insufficient 
grounds, the copper implements collected in Wisconsin exhibit in- 
dications of having been formed in molds, it would have no bear- 
ing whatever. upon the origin of those of Iowa, which are of very 
different type; those of the north being mostly of the more 
Modern forms of spears and knives; and not unusually found in 
Mounds, but scattered on the surface or in the shallow Indian 
Taves, , 
