The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-27 00:00:00

AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES.

Mr. W. De Hass bas been writing some interest-
ing accounts to the St. Louis papers on American
arcbteology. The mounds he describes are at Ame-
rican Bottom, Illinois, and, with those on the adja-
cent bluffs, number about two hundred. They are
in two groups, constituting one grand system, and
are in shape conical, truncated, ellipsoidal, and
square, and in height they vary from an eleva-
tion scarcely distinguishable to that of ninety
feet. They are composed of earth and vegetable
mould taken from the adjacent bluffs, and after
long investigation Mr De Mass has not the slightest
doubt but that they were built by human la-
bour. Originally they were intended for tombs, but
were also used as temples and dwelling places. Only
important personages were buried in them, however,
as the surrounding region is filled with human re-
mains, probably those of the common people. A
mound was commenced by digging a hole in the
ground and lining it with wood or stone, and then
depositing in it the body wrapped in skins or coarse
fabrics. The corpse was placed in a sitting or re-
cumbent posture, and with it were deposhed viands
for the support of the deceased on his way to
the spirit-land, and his weapons and trinkets.
The earth was then piled above the tomb to
the desired height, sometimes a passage being
left into the chamber from the outside, but more
generally it was entirely closed up. The wives and
servants of a chief were sometimes sacrificed at his
death and buried with him. Sometimes, too, the
body was burned and a mound built over the urn
that enclosed its ashes, or over the very spot of the
burning. One of the chambers, containing four
well-preserved human frames and many implements,
was lined with slabs of encrinal limestone, which
must have been transported some distance.
The form of the skulls discovered indicate that
at least two races dwelt there. Whether one
drove out the other, or subdued and be-
came amalgamated with it, is not yet deter-
mined. The types of heads found are the pyra-
midal or pyramid-shaped and the semi-progna-
thous, or those with projecting jaws. The
pottery is of two kinds ; one is fine, compact,
kiln-burned, and tastefully ornamented with
paint, while the other is coarse, sun-dried, and taste-
ful ornamented. These ancient potters did not
uie the wheel, but moulded by the hand vases,
urns, and dishes of various patterns. One mound
contained fifteen beautifully wrought vessels
with capacities varying from a pint to half a gal-
lon. The implements and ornaments are also of
two kinds, some being of polished stone exqui-
sitely wrought, and others of undressed stone.
The agricultural implements are different froth
those found in the Ohio Valley, and are of stone.
These strange people were not wanting in reverence,
too, for the household gods are still found guarding
the remains of those who worshipped them thou'
sands of years ago.

Among the persons decorated with the Order of
the Legion of Honour on the occasion of the fete Napoleon
is Monsieur Bourdillon, the Vice-Consul of France at
New York, who is appointed Knight of the Order.
M. Hippeau has been charged by the Minister of
Public, Instruction with the mission of, investigating the
system and organization of the public schools in Ameriett•
At the Democratic meeting in Westfield, on
Thursday evening, July 30, the Hon. Henry Fuller pre-
sided, and introduced the speaker as "General Grant!"
and after the audience had given cheers for the Republican
nominee and roars of laughter at the blunder, the presi"
dent corrected himself —" General Stiles, I mean."
The first shipment of valuable stock of any ini"
portanco since the outbreak of the cattle plague three
years ago left Liverpool this week by the Germany for
East Canada. Mr. Cochrane, of Montreal, has recently
been making large purchases in England of pure-bred
shorthorn cattle, Suffolk horses, and Cotswold sheer'
The shorthorns consist of eight young cows and heifers
and a bull calf ; three are of Bates blood—viz., Dachas/
97th, and W harfdale Rose, from Captain Gunter,
Wetherby-grange, Yorkshire ; and Wild Eyes 26th, fro nil
Mr. C. W. Harvey; Duchess 97th, a handsome the
heifer, 17 months old, cost 1,000 guineas, This is the
highest price that has ever yet been paid in England for
a cow or heifer of the shorthorn breed, and is the first of
the family exported since the great American purchases
ta
1853. The other six are of Booth blood. Three heiferl
and a fine young bull calf, Robert Napier, were purchase'
from Mr. Torr's herd at Aylesby, Lincolnshire ; and We
three-year-olds are from Mr. Br uere, of Braithwaite. li°
50 Cotswold sheep were selected from the flocks of
King Tombs and Mr. Garne, several of them being Priie
winners at the late meetings of the Royal and Yorkshire
Agricultural Societies.
A thunder-storm occurred at San Francisco oa
the 6th July, so violent that for the first time since the
telegraph has been in operation there all business was
suspended for two hours by the flashes of light"
ning which played along the wires at midday
Electrical flames danced round the instruments'and it is said there were frequent reports like a pistol'
The instruments were disconnected to prevent them front
melting. The brass in other localities has been melted jot;
globes nearly the size of a bullet, and thick copper wire hilt
melted away like lead. Between the warm springs Aliteie d
County, and San Jose, four telegraph poles were shatter at
by the lightning. One of the instruments in the offlee
San Jose was so injured by the lightning as to render it
unserviceable until repaired. ; lati
The Ku Klux Klan, according to the ClllOll the
Gazette, was started near Crab Orchard, Kentucky, ler 'de
suppression of laziness and drunkenness. It was 121:0.9
up of men of all parties to regulate the labour and Lao t a
of the country. "If a fellow was often found loafingld
cross-road grocery, he was notified to stop it, or he woo
be flogged within an inch of his life; if a fellow was
ta
ing too much, he received notice to clew up or 'per
threshing ; if a man neglected his family, or run Aim
other women, a threat of a rope or a rawhide genel. ea,
brought him to a realizing sense of his duty. These
in the administration of their justice, were perfectly 10.-0
partial, threshing rebels and Union men alike, their
failing utterly to discriminate on account of a
colour." The military authorities at Lexington refuseesq
to interfere, and the Corn nander said if he
the chief he would invite him to Lexington. The °i'tbo
nal intention has been changed, for the proceedings oes,
Klan are now directed against Union men and negro,
though it has not surrendered all design of inflicting.:oo
mary justice on culprits. On the sth inst. J.
and C. F. Bender were arrested in Tennessee for hecoo..
stealing, and committed to gaol in default of bail• pre
stable Day, with three men as guards, left Raleigh snot"
p.m., and after getting seven miles towards Parson
Place, the party was surrounded by men in Ku glad was
form, who seized the prisoners, and the last nell_s,,„ to
that two men had been found hanging by their tie'
trees. fol'
The opening of Japan to foreign trade viasoe-
lowed by the importation, chiefly from Europe sea 04,011
rica, of the various means and appliances which We.; the
to these countries their great eminence, especiallY. d for
u,e of steam, and recently orders hare been reeelveirit of
machinery of a mixed character, showing that the °itself•
enterprise thus created is gradually develoPih_gd toolg,
Amongst the class of goods thus ordered, we fill no Or
including screw and drilling machines, and als"... dose
gines, and there is every prospect that the trade 4: Java-
goods •will become more and more important. tbroWe
nese are an energetic, intelligent people, and havilig ,voisa"
down the barrier which cut them off from ontere'wbiett
tion, they are availing themselves of the advantage s
foreign commerce gives them.

Births. n) Stir'
Borm--r.On the 24th inst., at Eaton Farm, Cobl,ll- '
ray, the wife of Wm. J. Bovill, Esq., of a sou. Fool°,
FRANCIS—On the 25th inst., the wife of Dr. Wri3' Surrey
of Rod Lion-court, Fleet -street, and Richmond,
of a daughter. ~, the
NICHOLAS—On the 24th inst., at 8, Delamere-terrv'e
wife of R. M. Nicholas, Esq., of a son.

. _
BAZELEY—HUTCHINSON—On 25th inst, at d
Marriatghees. sortobsl'il:
Church, Henry M. Bazelev, E ,to Frances Tlcire°.lleS"
second daughter of Lieut.-Gen. Hutchinson, of 11'
T bourne, near Bideford. WO
03ILIN—TAYLOR -On the 25th inst tit Froli .11.-ier
Church, Paddington, John Tomlin," Esq , of,gilyierl
place, to Elizabeth Jane, second datghte; of J• "-
Esq., 22, Gloucester-gardens, Hyde-park.
Deaths. Geo'
coc KBURN— On the 24th inst., at East Cliff, Pover,,rooto
SirFrancisgB Cockburn, Colonel of the 95th
Beg.
I,iVer'
HEW ITT—On the 25th inst., at 34, Canning-street,
pool, Capt. John Hewitt, aged 53. B
MAYHEW—On the 24th inst., at Plymouth, . Italbe.6
Esq , aged 50. 1.1 la' in'
Roust—On the 24th inst., at Burley House, --,,‘31m).
Wharfedale, Yorkshire, Wm. Rouse, Esq., age' f the
SMITH—On the 24th inst., Eleanor Elizabeth, relict 7:1005,
lato Lt,-Gen. James W. Smith, C.B of West lls
'7
Sussex, aged 83. utb, L.
' vi.ocu'
Stmysom—On the 23d inst., at Bourne
Simpson, Esq., M.8.5.L., aged 44.
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01/9,
London : Printed and Published by WILLIA.% AND,_,,,, WI
of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at TRH SON OWN ''',iti oi
Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the 0°-
Middlesex.- .Thursday, August 27, ldeS, -