Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-07-25
THE MOUNDS OF MISSOURI.

S0lrt, 10 ms jTlend +" r'"'"'''
know of nothing that would be more en-
tertaining than a few speculative or descrIp-
tive ideas upon the curiosities OF this coun-
try, both natural and artificial; and which,
were | adequate to the task, might furnish
matter for the scientific researches and Tin
Grant labors of months. At present shall
con6ne my observations to the Mounds
which for their number, variety and even
construction claim a more distinguished
place among the artificial curiosities of an
tiquity than they have hitherto sustained;
and | am surprised the writers heretofore
have taken no more notice of them.
These ancient works pervade almost the
whole western country, and vary both in
magnitude and form. Some are conical
from the base to the top-others present only
the lower segment of cone; some are semi
globular--others in the form of a paraIlelo-
gram. The most remarkable appearances
OF mounds or pyramids in the western coun-
try, within my knowledge, are on the Mis-
sissippi, consisting OF two groups; the one
about two miles above thu Kahokia, which
empties nearSt Louis, and the other nearly
the same distance below it; which, in all,
exceed one hundred and fifty.
Near St. Louis, within one mile Of the
Mississippi, on the east side is the upper
group, which, at a little distance, resemble a
cluster Of o m hay stacks; they are
generally circular. and SOM Of them of a
great height, having space enough on top to
contain several hundred men. The largest
of these mounds is a stupendous pile Of
earth, 10 form which, must have required
the labors Of a thousand for years: j; stands
Immediately on the bank Ct Kahokia. Were
it not for the regularity and design display
ed, the PLAIN %alluvisl ground on winch il
stands, and the great number of others scat.
tered around\it--l could scarcely believe it
to be the work Of human hands. The shape
is a parallelogran from north 10 south; on
the south is broad apron about halt way
down, and from this another projection near.
ly fifteen feet wide: the whole %circumfer
ence is 800 yards, and the height OF the
mound 80 Ieet. The monks of La Trappe
have settled near il, who have made the
apron into a kitchen garden, and sowed the
top with wheat. The extraordinary appear.
ance OF This cluster Of mounds forces conv.c-
ton on the rejecting mind, that they are
the only relics which time ha. secured from
oblivion, OF a great and populous city, The
large mounds were probably scites of tenn
piles and many of the smaller ones monu-
nents of distinguished chiefs. There is
perhaps, no spot in the west capable OF pro-
ducing more abundantly and Of supporting
a more numerous population than this tract
called the American bottom.
The great number of mounds, and the
surprising quantity of human bones, every
where dug up or found on the surface OF the
ground, with other appearances-prove this
valley to have been anciently filled with the
habitations OF men. Near St. Louis is a Gu
rious work, much admired, called the Fallen
Garden. 1t suggests to the mind of the
spectator the idea OF a situation for assem-
bling the people for public councils.