Notices of Big-hone Lick, 209 



south-west point of which they all unite their waters to form Big- 

 bone creek. 



The fossil bones have all been found on the east and south- 

 east sides of the Gum Spring, either along the western branch 

 of the creek, about the point opposite the spring, or on the island ; 

 but always, except in a very few instances, within fifty or sixty 

 yards of this spring. Within so small an area has been gathered 

 the extraordinary quantity of which I have endeavoured to con- 

 vey some idea in the preceding pages. Many excavations have 

 been made in other parts of the valley, some in search of bones 

 and others for salt water. At what is called the Big Lick, where 

 a number of lime springs form a small miry spot like that at the 

 Gum Spring, and about one hundred and fifty yards from it, a 

 well has even been dug, and the soil examined to the depth of 

 twenty-five or thirty feet, without any bones being met with. 

 Yet here there would be the greatest probability of finding them 

 if any where besides the spot described. 



It appears from various accounts, that at the period of the first 

 settlement of the country the great bones were either lying on 

 the surface of the ground, or so near it as to be obtained with very 

 little labour. It is even said that they were so numerous on the sur- 

 face about fifty years ago, that a person might walk over the lick 

 by stepping from one to another, without touching the ground. 



Croghan gives the following short description of this place as 

 he found it about twenty years previous to the occupation of the 

 country by the whites. It is extracted from his manuscript 

 journal of a voyage down the Ohio, now in the possession of Mr. 

 Featherstonhaugh. 



" 30th, (May 1765.) We passed the great Miami river about 

 30 miles from the little river of that name, and in the evening 

 arrived at the place where the elephants' bones are found, where 

 we encamped, intending to take a view of the place next morn- 

 ing. This day we came about 70 miles. 



" 31st. Early in the morning we went to the great lick where 

 these bones are only found, about four miles from the river on 

 the south-east side. In our way we passed through a fine tinnh 

 bered clear wood. We came to a road which the buffaloes have 

 beaten, spacious enough for two wagons to go abreast, and lead- 

 ing straight into the lick. It appears that there are vast quan- 

 tities of these bones lying five or six feet under ground, which we 



Vol. I.— 27 



