Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-10-28
To the editors Of the Savannah Repub'n'
ANCIENT INDIAN FoRTIFIcATruNs.
"LampedOcia, Lite Satilla I
NOEL (EuN Drt & 1915

LaMpedOcta, Liit!e Sdt1Hd {
Week, (Ga.) Oct. 6, 1916.
"In submitting tor publication tire un-
derwritten true description OF an ancient
Indian ratification, | ain warranted in
the opinion of asserting that it will be
read with pleasure by many patrons Of
your widely circulated paper.
:. On the river Dover, branch Uf the
Great Sati!la, in this county, (Camden)
there is a remarkable fine bluff on tie
right bank, on whi>h is situated a very
ancient Indian fortiticstion. have view
ed it particularly myself, as well as ma
ny Of the most respectable gentlemen on
this neck and vicinity, al! Of whom agree
that it is "ne of the most magnificent an
cient Notifications that was ever disca-
vered in The United States. 1t has uH-
doubtedly stood for centuries, from the
decayed situation which It IS now ms
bat, from the regularity and strength Of
the works, it is obvious, that there must
have been BY far more an ingenious race
Of Aborigines than the present tribes, or
those that we're found at the first settle
ment of this country. Each side Of the
fertilization is about three hundred fee!
in length, and they are almost ra,a llel
with each othe', and the walls, which ase
made OF oyster shells and kind Of ha: d
mould, are now more than ten feet high /;
but, no doubt, when first Constructed
were considerably higher; the top OF
which is uaw very even and broad, sufi-
GENTLY so as TO admit ot heavy cannon
being placed thereon. The scite on which
it is built is remarkably exemplary of In-
dian ingenuity, being placed beside a
beautiful spring rivulet, and nOtwith.
standing which it has very command
ing position. At the north east corner Of
the fort there is small round cut work,
the walls of which are as strong as any
part, which admits Of narrow passage
into the main ratification; ard it also
appears that on this bluff was situated
ouc of the largest towns of this ancien,
people, there being several large mounds
OF earth thrown 10 ON large masses Of
the dead, who are laid OF in regular
strata, one above the other; and there
are also large pieces Of eartheru pots and
nther implements for domestic use.'
The editors Of the New York Gazette,
having received the following communi.
cation direct from our consul at Bordeaux
per the Maria Theresa, hasten to preset
il to their readers.
(coPY.'
Havre, Sept. 1,
SIR-Permit me to communicate to
you some customs of commerce that have
the force Of law ia the city of Havre,
which have not perhaps come to your
knowledge aud which am persuaded are
unknown to most of the American capts.
vino Grequen. this purt, as | myself was
igLpraDt Of them until row.
Il appears that the expression "con
tents ustRoDn," of which the American
captains generally make use in their bills
of lading, are not considered in France,
at least ia Havre, 4 sufficient guarantee
against any deficiency in the weight Of
goods loaded ON their vessels and altho'
il is well known TO all the world that
neither the captains nor their officers are
called to see the goods weighed, and tha'
they have no uther mans Of ascertaiain2
the weight they are nevertheless bound to
make good that which is specified iu the
bill OF Iad;ng
Many cases of this kind have been al
ready decided against captains by the
tribunal VI commerce, aud special care
ought, therefore, to be taken 10 stippIate
at least freight and contents unkaorn,
and even then | would not guarantee that
they would uot be attacked in some other
manner.
1t appears also, when Amei ican capts.
unload tEeir cargoe. uuder tent "a
thing done but in Havre) and that on,y
for the interest or convenience ot the
consisnee OF their goods, t!!sush they
have no authority uhdet"t,.e tcn,, which
has been erected and guarded By persons
under the direction vi the cGnsighee, the
captains are no itlIsiaiding ,espGGsible
fof what the lis Of lading call for ill
tnev are receipted and all lpbberies
committed after the landing under the
teut they are charge-sle Wit, till the