APPENDIX. 
281 
It was six or eight paces across it, had it been carried up to a 
point, as most likely it originally was, or nearly so, it would 
have increased the height of the mound 30 or 40 feet, which 
latter number added to the 86 feet, its present height, would 
make it 126 feetj above the ground at the base. When the pre¬ 
sent proprietor took possession of his plantation, upon which 
the fortification stands, about 20 years ago, the country around 
was timbered and covered with lime brakes. 
There was at that time no timber growing upon the fortifi¬ 
cation of more than a foot diameter, opposite the high mound 
on the west line was another mound, on the east, but not so 
high, about 50 feet above the common level of the ground. 
In the middle of the north and south lines were the appear¬ 
ances of ways to ascend and descend the fortification; on each 
side of these apparent pass ways, was a moUnd, rising not more 
than 10 feet above the fortification, but near 50 above the level 
of the ground around. There was remaining part of the way 
round the base, a ditch, in some places, at the time 1 saw it, near 
near 20 feet deep. Human bones of a large size have been 
found near the mound. 
(No. 4.) 
The following interesting account of a part of the Missis 
sippi country is extracted from a letter to the editors* dated 
Natchez, Mississippi Territory, Jan. 12, 1813. 
MAD1SONTVILLE 
Is handsomely situated on the west bank of the river Tche- 
fonta, which rises and runs into lake Ponchartrain in the parish 
of St. Tammany, in the state of Louisiana. At present this tbwm 
has little more than the name, attached to an elegant, healthy, 
and eligible spot of ground for a seaport town. About half a 
dozen French built mud walled huts, and about as many log hou¬ 
ses or cabins, and two or three small frames are all its present 
improvements. 
* National Intelligencer—attributed to Dr. Ferry of the tl S. Navv. 
M 1TR 
