The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-07-21
1lalsreuanp.
ANTIQUITIES
Of INTERIOR AMERICA.


BeGdes ,hofe ruins in the Illinois and Waeafh
countries, which have often been mentioned,
there are Others no lefs remarkable, many hun
dreds of miles farther wet, particularly in the
country about the great falls Of the Miiilhppi.
AS we approach thefe falls commonly called
St. Anthony's, we frequently meet with pyra-
znids of earth, from thirty 70 feventy, and even
eighty feet in height. Thefe are mott probably,
the tombs Of the ancient kings and Chieftains
ofths part of America, though there are others
which am inclined to believe were erected In
confequence of fome asual victory, and politely
to cover the bones and carcafes of the ilain. In
digging horizontally into ieveral Of theie pyra-
mds, little above the haf, we generally
found a itratum of white fubfance. fomewhat
ike moiff lime, ard glutinous withal, extended
in all probability feveral yards within, or per
haps nearly the whole length of the diametrcal
line. had even reafon TO believe this contoli-
dated chalky fubftance to be the remains OF Ike.
le.ons buried, perhaps two hundred centuries
ago, and converted by time and the operations
of the elements into their prefent fate.
Many tokens remain, on both tides of the
Mififiippi, of the being in ancient ages as well
cultivated and as thick!y inhabited as the coun-
try on the Danube or the Rhine WHICH fully
proves that the literati have bsen too hafy in
denominating America a new world, or an orr.
eiuaI prefent to the European from the hands
of rude nature.
A copper mine was opened fome years fnce
further down the Miffilifei. and to the grea.
furprife of the laboureps, a large collection of
the mining tools were found feverd fatboms
below the fuper6ces of the earth. Another
perfon, in digging for well dfcovered fur
mace of brick work five fathoms below the pre-.
fent furface and in this furnace were found
quantity of Goals and firebrands, which for
aught we know, might have been kudles in the
days of Notes or Lycurgus.
Not long fince, at a fpot on the Ohio, where
the bank had been waited by the undermining
OF the water, ftone dropped out Of the har-
def kind Of black marble, about feven pounds
in weight, having twelve equal furfaces, each
furface being mathenatically eouilateraI and
equiangular five fded figures this does no,
appear to be luIus natu'a, but work cf ex-
quifite art, the offspring of human ingenuity.
Near the falls of the MiHifirpi, there is falt
fpring in the bed of the river, which has been
cncIofed with ftopc work of unknown antiqui
ty, to keep out the freih water. In times of
frefles, however, the river oveSfows the ftone
work and mixes with the brine, 70 that il does
not afford faIt to the favages hereabouts until
the river is comfortably fallen.
In feveral places, circular Notifications have
been difcovered in the fame country thefe are
Contantiy inclofed with deep bitches and fenc.
ed with breaft work. From thefe, and many
other imar remains of antiquity, one would
be inclined to think the world much Older than
has been commonly imagined. Several tribes
on the weftern fide of the great river above
mentioned, date their exifteuce for more than
twenty thoufand moons back, and the Indians
ofthe weftern world go infinitely farther into
the depths of time, though both relate many
events of thefe difant periods that arc evident
ly mixed with fable.