Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-06-15
Southern Par.
MilledeeriNe. NV 90.

iNVledgeviNe, My 90.
Travellers from the Westward inform
US that the lands ceded by the Creek
In hans to the y States which will first
be offered tor sale, are now surveying, and
extend from the Spanish line, or 51st de-
gree OF latitude, u miles north-this
tract OF country is said to contain very
little god land except Immediately on the
rivers & creeks. The object of Govern
ment in making the first sales adjacent
to the Spanish territory, undoubtedly is
to secure the tranquility Of the Indians
within our limits, by excluding foreign ma
tons, from intercourse with them. When
this state shall dispose CT her vacant ter
ritory adjoining Florida, which will pro-
baby b. done by the next Legislature,
the views of government Will be effected,
by extending the white settlements from
Georgia to the Mississippi Territory
The lands now running by the II. States
Surveyors, it is thought, cannot re brought
into markst earlier than next Spring
From Fort Gaines, we have no anthem
tic information since our last paper. Re-
fort says, tue two soldiers have been de-
livered up and that the Indians, fearing
the resentment of our government, are
endeavouring to compromise the matter.
journal.
AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES.
1t has long been subject of doubt when,
by whom. and for VIII t purpose, the
mounds so common in different parts of our
country. were made. Most peonIe have
supposed they were erected by tn Ind
ans, and designed by th M as receptacies
for their dead. MIR. Jeffersah, who favors
this idea, gives an account of the opening
of one in Virginia, which contained an i'm.
mense number of bones that appeared to
have .bsen deposited at different periods,
the lower strata being much more decayed
than the upper. Some have considered
them the remains of civil iZe people,
who have wasted away. and become ex-
tinct Others, with more plausibhty, be-
lleve, they were erected ike pyramids in
Egypt,-to. crafty some hauga,y iyrant, or
to commemorate important events. What
ever may have been their origin, it is
doubtless very ancient. the growth upon
them, in many instances, beicg uncommonly
large. The opinion Of colonel Hawkins,
(Which We extract from his manuscript
sketch Of the Greek Nation as to tee PEG
pie by whom they were made and their
object in erecting them. * not the right
one, is as probable as any that have been
advaDCed.-l1e says, they were intended
as places Of refuge during The freshes, the
Indians being formerly III the habit Of SET
ting on rich flats, bordering streams, sub
ject to iuundation--for lustance, the Miss,s
sippi, which river spreads out OIL the west
side great distance, where it is likely the
creation OF those mounds originated. Such
is the tradition amorg the Creeks, who
came originally from beyond the Missis
slppi. But why erect them in high pla
ces. incontestibly beyond the reach of
foods '--FroDl a SnferstitioNs vsaeraHon
jar ancIeat customs G. J2nrD.
NEw-ORLEANs, May 10.
The City Council have appropriated a
sum Of mon = for the relief Of suca unfor-
tunste families as being Obliged 10 leave
their houses III consequence Of the inuada-
ton, and in distress for a place of refuge
and for the necessaries of life Persons 81
situated, on application 70 thu alderman of
their respective wards, will be assisted in
nrn~nrit,o frpprcoptc prcxr,.,,,,e