1875. J 819 [Putnam. 



them ; whence they came or whither they went, all is lost in the great 

 mystery of the past, and only their empty skulls and wonderful mon- 

 uments of industry, with their implements of skill, are left to tell us 

 of their former power. We know not if these burials indicate fam- 

 ine, pestilence, war, or the unholy sacrifice. We can only conjecture 

 that they were not the graves of persons who had died a natural 

 death. 



The caves of Kentucky were often used as receptacles for the dead, 

 and many of them contain large numbers of human skeletons ; but 

 that they were also used as at least temporary places of habitation is 

 shown by the relics found in Salt Cave, situated near the Mammoth 

 Cave, and belonging to the same proprietors. This cave, which is a 

 rival to the Mammoth in the size of some of its avenues, is difficult 

 of access. A small stream of water flows over its mouth, and runs 

 off, through the loose rocks which have fallen from the roof of the 

 cave, to the passage on the left. After entering the cave, the de- 

 scent of a steep hill of loose rocks to the right leads into a large 

 avenue of several miles in length, the floor of which is covered with 

 jagged rocks that have fallen from above. After climbing over this 

 rough road for some distance, small areas are observed where the 

 roof rock has not fallen and where the original dirt floor, or 

 old river bed, is seen. In these places there are to be found quite 

 level spots where fires have been kindled, and small piles of stone 

 placed by human hands. Here and there, in favorable places, other 

 small piles of stones are to be seen, erected in such a way as to leave 

 a small hole in their centre, and at the bottom of these holes ashes 

 and the stubs of burnt sticks can be seen ; while on some of the 

 rocks about were found small bundles of fagots tied with bark, and of 

 a convenient size to be taken in one hand and placed in the holes of 

 the rock piles, evidently indicating that these bundles of sticks were 

 brought into the cave for use as lights and firewood. Further on, 

 within passages and chambers, other indications of habitation were 

 noticed, and in one small chamber, in which the foot of a white man 

 had never stepped before, were seen on the cave earth the imprints 

 of feet that had been shod with peculiar braided moccasons or san- 

 dals. Here were in reality the " footprints on the sands of time." 

 The naked heel and toes and the braided covering to the sole of the 

 foot have left imprints as distinct in the tenacious and heavy soil of 

 the cave as if made but a few days previous. In these side cham- 

 bers, which had just been discovered by Mr. Putnam's guides, 



