1875.] 327 [Putnam. 



simple facts attending this discovery are few ; but the subject itselt 

 opens a field for philosophical inquiry, worthy the investigation of a 

 man of science, a character to which I have no pretensions. 



" I received information, that an infant, of nine or twelve months 

 old, was discovered in a saltpetre Cave in Warren County, about 

 four miles from the Mammoth Cave, in a perfect state of preservation. 

 I hastened to the place ; but, to my mortification, found that, upon its 

 being exposed to the atmosphere, it had fallen into dust, and that its 

 remains, except the skull, with all its clothing, had been thrown into 

 the furnace. I regretted this much, and promised the laborers to Re- 

 ward them, if they would preserve the next subject for me. About 

 a month afterwards, the present one was discovered, and information 

 given to our agent at the Mammoth Cave, who sent immediately for 

 it, and brought and placed it there, where it remained for twelve 

 months. It appeared to be the exsiccated body of a female. The 

 account which I received of its discovery, was simply this. It was 

 found at the depth of about ten feet from the surface of the Cave, 1 

 bedded in clay, strongly impregnated with nitre, placed in a sitting 

 posture, incased in broad stones standing on their edges, with a flat 

 stone covering the whole. It was enveloped in coarse clothes, (a 

 specimen of which accompanied it) the whole wrapped in deer skins, 

 the hair of which was shaved off in the manner in which the Indians 

 prepare them for market. Enclosed in the stone coffin, were the 

 working utensils, beads, feathers, and other ornaments of dress, which 

 belonged to her. The body was in a state of much higher perfection, 

 when first discovered, and continued so, as long as it remained in the 

 Mammoth Cave, than it is at present, except the depredations com- 

 mitted upon its arms and thighs by the rats, many of which inhabit 

 the Cave. After it was brought to Lexington, and became the sub- 

 ject of great curiosity, being much exposed to the atmosphere, it 

 gradually began to decay; its muscles to contract, and the teeth to 

 drop out, and much of its hair was plucked from its head by wanton 

 visitants. As to the manner of its being embalmed, or whether the 

 nitrous earth and atmosphere had a tendency to preserve it, must be 

 left to the speculations of the learned. 



"The Cave in which the Mummy was found, is not of great extent, 

 not being more than three quarters of a mile in length; its surface 



1 This probably is intended to imply ten feet from the surface including the fallen 

 roof rock. 



