JOURNAL. U 
irer, the bank as is supposed, serving as a sufficient 
defence on that side.* 
Monday 3d. We set out early, and had a clear day ; 
' passed yellow bluffs on tlie north side and a small ^ 
creek, called Plumb creek. Here the river turns at 
right angles to the left,' till il reaches the hills on the 
south side, then winds gradually to the right. There 
is no timber in this part of the country ; but contin- 
ued prairie on both sides of the river. A person by 
going on one of the hills may have a view as far as 
the eye can reach without any obstruction, or inters 
vening objeet 4 and enjoy the most delightful pros- 
• pects. During this.. day^s voyage we found the hills 
an the opposite sides of the river generally not more 
than two miles apart, and the river meandering through 
them in various directions. We encamped on the 
south side. 
Tuesday 4th» We proceeded early on our voyage, 
passed a creek on the south side about 30 yards wide, 
* The description of this Breastwork corresponds exactly 
with the accounts given of numerous antient fortifications 
discovered in the Western Countr)^, which are known and 
represented to be generally of an oblong' form, situate on 
string and well chosen giX)ur!d, and contiguous to water. 
These works from the examinations whic h have been made, 
are supposed to have been erected more than 1000 years ago ; 
or 700 before the discover)- of Americaby Coluipbus. They 
appear to have existed about the same period, thrnog-iiouti 
ail, or the greater|part of that vast tarct of Covmtry bounded 
by the Alleghany Mountains on the east and ihe Rocky 
Mountains on the west, and including the most favourable 
latitudes of North America. Pej liapssome have been found 
east of the Alleghany Mountains. Have numerous antient 
nations, more civilized and disposed to labour than any of, 
the m.';derji Indian tribes, inhabited this Country ? And have 
these fortifications been tiieir hir.>ible substitutes for the 
walled and fortified Cities of the old world in remote ages ? 
Or, has this been the Roman Enipire of rhe N-^w World I 
and has it been destrr.} ed hy other hoi-des of barbarians^ 
as f erce and cruel as those who destroyed that of the old 
