ANTIQUITIES.—BOOK IE 
181 
It would be adviseable to leave at intervals, openings in the le- 
^»ee, properly secured on each side, like the sluices of the saw 
mills, in order to let off the water of the river. An immense 
quantity escapes through the present levees. In proportion as 
the levees extend upwards, and those below be come properly 
secured, so as to prevent much of the water from escaping, they 
must be raised. A vast body of water at the present time pas¬ 
ses off in those places, where there are no embankments; if this 
were kept in, the levees would every where require to be seve¬ 
ral feet higher. Artificial drains at proper distances might in a 
great measure obviate this difficulty, But not having leisure 
for these speculations, I leave them to others, who are otherwise 
interested, than as general well-wishers for the prosperity of the 
country. 
CHAPTER X. 
ANTIQUITIES IN THE VALLEY OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 
SI QUIP NOVISTI RECTIUS ISTIS, CANDIDUS 1MPERTI, SI NON, HIS 
UTERE MECUM. 
CONSIDERABLE curiosity has been excited by appear¬ 
ances on the Mississippi ahd its tributary waters, supposed to 
prove a more ancient and advanced population, than the state of 
the country, or the character of the tribes inhabiting it, when 
first visited by Europeans, would seem to indicate. I need 
make no apology for devoting a chapter to a subject, which has 
been dignified by the pens of Mr. Jefferson, Dr. Barton, and 
a Bishpp Madison. Yet, with all possible deference to these 
respectable names, I cannot but think their theories founded 
on a very imperfect acquaintance with these remains: having 
never themselves, visited any but the least considerable, and but 
few having been described by others with accuracy. The sub¬ 
ject is still new, and I know of none which opens a wider fiel4 for 
interesting and amusing speculation. 
