20 
BETTE WS. 
contents of the mounds themselves assist us m this inquiry. Several 
of them have been opened, and “ in the process of grading the streets 
of Milwaukie ” “ many of the mounds were entirely removed,” but 
the only result has been to show that they are not sepulchral, and 
that, excepting by accident, they contain no implements or ornament. 
hinder these circumstances speculation would be useless ; we can 
but wait and hope that time and perseverance may solve the problem, 
and explain the nature of these remarkable and mysterious monu¬ 
ments. 
Insceiptions. 
There is one class of objects which I have not yet mentioned, and 
which yet ought not to be left entirely unnoticed. 
The most remarkable of these is the celebrated Dighton Rock on 
the east bank of the Taunton River. Its history, and the various 
conclusions which have been derived from it, are very amusingly 
given by Dr. Wilson. # In 1783, the Rev. Ezra Stiles, D.D., Presi¬ 
dent of Tale College, when preaching before the Governor of the 
State of Connecticut, appealed to this rock, inscribed, as he believed, 
with Phoenician characters, for a proof that the Indians were descended 
from Canaan, and were therefore accursed. Count de Gebelin re¬ 
garded it as a Carthaginian inscription. In the 8th vol. of the 
‘ Archseologia,’ Colonel Yallency endeavours to prove that it is Sibe¬ 
rian ; while certain Danish antiquaries regarded it as Runic, and 
thought that they could read the name “ Thorfinn,” “ with an exact, 
“ though by no means so manifest, enumeration of the associates who, 
“ according to the Saga, accompanied Karlsefne’s expedition to Yin- 
“ land, in a.d. 1007.” Einally, Mr. Schoolcraft submitted a copy of 
it to Chingwauk, an intelligent Indian Chief, who “ interpreted it as 
“ the record of an Indian triumph over some rival native tribe,” but 
without, we believe, offering any opinion as to its antiquity. 
In the “Grave Creek Mound” was found a small oval disk of 
white sandstone, on which were engraved twenty-two letters. Mr. 
Schoolcraft, who has especially studied this relic, finally concludes, 
after corresponding with many American and European archaeologists, 
according to Dr. Wilson, that of these twenty letters, four corres¬ 
ponded with ancient Greek,f four with the Etruscan, five with the 
old Northern Runes, six with the ancient Gaelic, seven with the old 
Erse, ten with the Phoenician, fourteen with the Anglo-Saxon, and 
sixteen with the Celtiberic; besides which possibly equivalents may 
be found in the old Hebrew. “ It thus appears that this ingenious 
“ little stone is even more accommodating than the Dighton Rock; in 
“ adapting itself to all conceivable theories of ante-columbian coloni- 
“ sation.” A stone of such doubtful character could prove little 
under any circumstances ; but it must also be mentioned that “ Dr. 
“ James W. Clemens communicated to Dr. Morton all the details of 
* Yol. ii p. 172. 
f Do. Vol. ii. p. 180. 
