NORTH AMERICA* 2 2 3 
plain, very near the bank of the river, now twenty 
or thirty yards from it. They ccnfift of conical 
mounts of earth and four fquare terraces, &c. The 
great mount is in the form of a cone, about forty 
or fifty feet high, and the circumference of its bafe 
two or three hundred yards, entirely cornpofed of 
the loamy rich earth of the low grounds : the top 
or apex is flat: a fpiral path or track leading. from 
the ground up to the top is ftill vifible, where now 
grows a large, beautiful fpreading Red Cedar (Ju- 
niperus Americana) : there appear four niches, ex- 
cavated out of the Tides of this hill, at different 
heights from the bafe, fronting the four cardinal 
points ; there niches or fentry boxes are entered in- 
to from the winding path, and feem to have been 
meant for refting places or look-outs. The circum- 
jacent level grounds are cleared and planted with 
Indian Corn at prefent ; and I think the proprietor 
of thefe lands, who accompanied us to this place, 
faid that the mount itfelf yielded above one hun- 
dred bufheis in one feafon : the land hereabouts is 
indeed exceeding fertile and produ&ive. 
It is altogether unknown to us, what Could have 
induced the Indians to raife fuch a heap of earth in 
this place, the ground for a great fpace around be- 
ing iubjedt to inundations, at leaft once a year, 
from which circumftance we may conclude they 
had no town or fettled habitations here. Some ima- 
gine thefe tumuli were conftru6led for look -cut 
towers. It is reafonable to fuppofe, however, that 
they were to ferve fome important purpofe in thofe 
days, as they were public works, and would have 
required the united labour and attention of a whole 
nation, circumftance d as they were, to have con- 
ftruded one of them almofl in an age. There are 
Y 2 fevergl 
