BY CHAS. RAU, OF NEW YORK. collection of Indian stone implements contains a number of specimens able alike for large size and superior workmanship, which, to all appearave been used for agricultural purposes by the aborigines of this country; no description of similar relics has appeared as yet in any modern work th American ethnology or antiquities, a notice thereof might be acceptable who take an interest in the former condition of the aboriginal inhabitants th America. implements in question are of two distinct forms, represented in the woodigures 1 and 2, and may be classified, from their shape and probable ation, as shovels and hoes. The material from which they are chipped, hich I never succeeded in discovering in situ, is invariably a very hard f a bluish, gray, or brownish color, and a slightly conchoidal fracture, and unlike that variety of flint of which the arrow and spear heads occurring west are usually made. ig. 1 represents one of the shovels in my possession. Like all other specis of this kind, it is an oval plate, flat on one side and slightly convex on the er, the outline forming a sharp edge. It measures above a foot in length, a e more than five inches in its greatest breadth, and is about three-quarters an inch thick along the longitudinal diameter. The workmanship exhibits admirable degree of skill. Besides the specimen just described, which was covered in a field near Belleville, St. Clair county, Illinois, I possess two ers of similar shape and workmanship. The one of these last named I found self within sight of the celebrated Cahokia temple-mound in Illinois, in the struction of which it may have assisted centuries ago; the other was dug up 1861 in St. Louis, while earthworks were built by order of General Frémont the protection of the city against an apprehended attack of the southern cessionists. When attached to solid handles, these stone plates certainly contuted very efficient digging implements. Fig. 2 illustrates the shape of a hoe. This specimen, which was obtained om a burial-mound near Illinoistown, opposite St. Louis, is seven and a half ches long, nearly six inches wide, and about half an inch thick in the middle; e round part is worked into a sharp edge. Another specimen of my collec pears, notwithstanding the hardness of the mateed, and slightly striated in the direction in which round. This peculiar feature is common to all 1 also to the few which I have seen in the posto be rather scarce, and merely confined to the sippi river. Dr. E. H. Davis, of New York, has nd comprehensive collection of Indian relics, and, e or represent them in his work on the "Ancient Valley," forming the first volume of the Smithaware that Mr. Schoolcraft has mentioned them American races. of Louisiana," by Du Pratz, refers, doubtless, to ne as hoes. In speaking of the agricultural pura, that author observes, they had invented a hoe, they prepared the soil for the culture of maize. shaped like a capital L; they cut with the edge irely flat."* It is true, he does not mention of t" consisted, but we may safely infer that it was h the aborigines of North America manufactured f peace and war. They had no iron, and the r, derived from the region of Lake Superior, were namental purposes. gricultural utensils of Indian origin are occasionsurprising, for we know from the accounts of the » North American tribes raised maize and a few the arrival of the Europeans on this continent. ncipal produce, and that on which they mainly ill-fated Mississippi expedition of De Soto, Gartedly of the extensive maize fields of those Indian that band of hardy adventurers passed. During the Senecas, made as early as 1687 under the Indian corn was burned or otherwise spoiled, and is said to have amounted to 400,000 minots, or n asserted by Adair, that the colonists obtained rts of beans and peas with which they were before of a stream of water-Tangha The "fort lot" contained ei and northern sides an embank this time it is not more than o it was considerably higher th this embankment a ditch was of the embankment posts were purpose to that which our fen ground to a depth of three fee clude that they extended abo there were three rows of posts But it is very probable that the whole length of the west sid At the northeast and southe gates were situated, which affo east gate was calculated to aff mentioned, while the other on and southeastern sides there pretty steep. Posts were he might be formed over the ban from entering from that side. near the fort,) from whom I h itants of the enclosure had ac this be as it may, it is very guarded against enemies on nation was hostile to them. which need not be cited in this place, we learn ans generally, though warriors by disposition and vertheless, already made some steps towards an ents that happened after the arrival of the whites, . ovement, served only to lower their condition, and osition of strangers in their own land. ne L capitale; elles tranchent par les côtés du bout bas ouisiane, par M. Le Page du Pratz, (Paris, 1758,) vol. ii, York, vol. i, p. 238. This estimate may be somewhat dians, by James Adair, (London, 1775,) p. 403. About sixty years ago ever Parched Indian corn was 8 The corn, in fact, was burnt structure had been destroyed the ordinary way, it is not I have remained many years. been burnt to charcoal. It which were put up for future "after digging through abou about the same thickness of quantity of earthenware. T this was a bed of ashes of earthenware showed that the When the embankment ar it was found to be compose earth formed mostly from r that the embankment was fo with earth to some depth v structure was destroyed in t ated on a rise of ground some twenty-five or thirty feet above the level am of water-Tanghanic creek-large enough, when the country was run a saw-mill four or five months of the year, the creek forming the stern boundary of the lot. fort lot" contained eight or ten acres, perhaps, and around its eastern thern sides an embankment was thrown up several feet in height. At e it is not more than one foot, or near that; but, before it was ploughed, considerably higher than at present. At the northwest extremity of bankment a ditch was dug at right angles to it. Around the outside mbankment posts were set, which, perhaps, served the same or a similar e to that which our fence-posts do now. These posts were set into the to a depth of three feet, and judging from this we should be led to conhat they extended above ground eight or ten feet. On the west side were three rows of posts, but no embankment that could be discovered. is very probable that the ditch, of which I have before spoken, extends the length of the west side, though it can now be traced but a little way. e northeast and southeast corners there were gate-posts set, where the vere situated, which afforded egress and ingress to the camp. The southate was calculated to afford a direct passage to the stream of water before oned, while the other one led directly to a burial-ground. On the southern outheastern sides there is a bank fifteen or twenty feet in height, and steep. Posts were here set part way down the bank so that a bridge be formed over the bank for some purpose besides preventing any one entering from that side. Mr. Jonathan Owen, (an aged farmer who resides the fort,) from whom I have most of my information, thinks that the inhab of the enclosure had access to the creek by an underground passage. Let be as it may, it is very evident, from the appearances around, that they led against enemies on all sides, thus showing that some other party or n was hostile to them. Dout sixty years ago everything that I have described was distinctly visible. hed Indian corn was seen in considerable quantities in various places. corn, in fact, was burnt black, and everything else showed that the whole cture had been destroyed by fire. If it had rotted down or decomposed in Ordinary way, it is not probable that the wooden part of the fabric would e remained many years. The part of the posts that entered the ground had burnt to charcoal. It is probable that large quantities of Indian corn ch were put up for future use were destroyed by fire. Mr. Owen stated that, ter digging through about two inches of loose dirt," he came to a bed of ut the same thickness of bones, oyster, and clam shells, and a considerable ntity of earthenware. The bones were principally deer's bones. Below s was a bed of ashes of nearly the same thickness. The remains of their thenware showed that they had made some progress in the arts. When the embankment around the northern and eastern sides was ploughed vas found to be composed of a loose mucky earth, very much resembling th formed mostly from rotten wood. This led Mr. Owen to the conclusion at the embankment was formed of logs covered with earth. Its being covered th earth to some depth would prevent the logs from taking fire when the ructure was destroyed in that way. ite extensive, embracing not less than two or three ion, about fifteen rods from the fort, was another st gate, as before mentioned, led directly to this tained at least half an acre. In all of them the sited as they conveniently could be. The last ill visible, it being in the woods; but the other two they cannot be distinguished at present. In the ›le, I have assisted in digging out several graves. while in others, nothing of the kind were seen. the earth is sunk a little. In the first one that igh-bones, hip-bones, arm-bones, and various other and several teeth were found, but no hair. We to throw out the earth with; otherwise, it is probnore things. The earth was very loose, and it was, out. The depth of the grave was about 3 feet. bones were found, was under a root of the stump ree was, perhaps, from three to six hundred years t has grown there since the grave was made. ese people were buried in a sitting posture. The eing more than four feet in length. Also the jaw, I found together, just as they naturally would be if ting posture. ve been found on the "fort-lot" at different times. have been found there, made of the hardest flint xes, have also been found. Several years since, a gton, found a pipe there, probably used for smoking very long, but of a sufficient size to admit a wooden e-bowl had the face of a frog formed on it. e there are three other similar forts to the one which wrought nails, part of an iro knife of extra fine quality of If among your antiquities yo perhaps assist us to ascertain If you deem this informati regarding further exploration: sent you, I will, as soon as th in several more places, in hop covery. Can you gather any inform ton? I have one I can send, I remain yours, most i P. S.-I am the oldest whit having been here since Janua ground where these ruins are built up. Senator Ramsey w ANCIE of a captiv MY DEAR SIR: I promised I think you will agree with I I think, to the Peruvians. T made of cloth. I hand you sp tofore described. (Vide Trans. These specimens were taker by the late Sylvester Sexton, hook, piece of china bowl, piece of looking-glass, very long and well made ht nails, part of an iron hinge, part of a clay pipe, strips of copper, one of extra fine quality of steel-has the name of Pelon" on the blade. ong your antiquities you have any cutlery bearing the same mark, it may ps assist us to ascertain the direction these ancient settlers came from. you deem this information of any value, and will give me any directions ding further explorations and the manner in which you wish the articles you, I will, as soon as the frost in spring will permit, turn over the ashes veral more places, in hopes to find some record to add interest to the disy. an you gather any information by examining a jaw-bone of a human skeleI have one I can send, found near the forge. I remain yours, most respectfully, in haste, O. H. KELLEY. . S.-I am the oldest white settler, with one exception, in this neighborhood, ing been here since January 1850, and have seen the forest cleared from the ind where these ruins are found, and the present little town of Dayton It up. Senator Ramsey will vouch for my being an old settler here. ANCIENT RELICS IN MISSOURI. WASHINGTON, March 14, 1864. MY DEAR SIR: I promised you some time ago a description of some ancient ics of pottery from the mounds of Missouri, but that promise has remained fulfilled up to this time. Accompanying this note are photographs of three vessels: 1. Front view of probably a priest, or some official personage, if we re2. Profile view gard the head-dress as a badge of office. 3. Back view 4. Preview of a captive, bound, perhaps, for immolation. 5. A plain vessel without any ornamentation. These vessels are about twelve inches in height and are composed of clay lightly burnt, and are without any glazing. The interior is hollow, and the rifice in two instances is at the side, and in the other at the top. The thickess of the crust is about one-fourth of an inch. I regard them as watercoolers; the texture being such as to retain water for a considerable time, and also to allow evaporation from the exterior surface. I think you will agrée with me that the ancient sculptor exhibited 'considerable skill in moulding. The proportions of the features are not very grossly exaggerated, and he possessed sufficient skill to delineate the traits characteristic of his race. Those traits belong not to the North American Indians, but, I think, to the Peruvians. The fillet on the head I am disposed to think was made of cloth. I hand you specimens of ancient weaving, which I have heretofore described. (Vide Trans. Am. Asso., Albany meeting,) [1855?| These specimens were taken from mounds in Mississippi county, Missouri, by the late Sylvester Sexton, of Chicago, and are now in the possession of his |