The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-04-24
AMERICAN ANTHQU ITlES.
Ii

vast race OF people, VINO OHCS lui4apitSu
the Mississippi Valley, and cultivated it
as highly as the Rhine is at the present
time Pyramids and tumuli stand firm
ly, though history may change TO tradi-
ton and tradition merge into fable. The
pyramids of Egypt. have outlived the
history of their builders. The nations
that have built the American mounds
have passed away like a tale that is told,
but az long as these remains exist, We
have the grand out line OF their his
tory.
The antiquities of the United States
are found all over the country. They
are varied in size and shape, but attest
beyond doubt. the superiority of their
builders to the American Indians.
Many of these mounds have been
opened. Skeletons have generally been
found in them, also many implements of
war and peace. Some mounds, ike the
one near Wheeling, Va, were nearly
filed with human skeletons, others con-
tain only one What must have been
the virtues or abilities of such person,
when his people reared such a monu-
ment over bis remains? A Washington
or Napoleon may have been laid away
for ever. in our American tumuli. The
mounds vary from five or six feet In
height to three or four hundred. Some
seem to have been used for look outs, or
religious services. Their devotion to re-
ligion must have been very great to
cause them to rear such mounds. In
those mounds which contain skeletons,
these are laid side by side in layers.
This has caused two opinions, either
that this people committed human sacri-
| fee, or that these are remains Of Indians
who, consequently built these mounds.
This people, who are sometimes called
the 1Heng10hi, are supposed to be the
same as the Mexieans, indeed there is
sufficient evidence to prove that now, be-
cause the Spaniards have accused the
| the cry, and accuse their kindsmen. the
| MenglCkt of the same. But We should
receive Spanish authority with mental
reservation. Granting that such a peo-
pie as the Mengwhi did live here, their
| Notifications show them to have been in
a state of war, is itnot contrary to common
sense to suppose that they would sacri-
| fee their own people when so much
is needed against foreign enemy?
The second Is very important point
| and | will devote little space to it. If
it is proved that these are the remains
of Indians, then we must infer that the
Indians built these mounds, consequent
y, the Notifications etc.. so closely con-
.nected with them, and the whole theory
| of vast semi-civilized race falls to
the ground.
Our Indians have the same manners
and costums now that they had when
the white people first came to this coun-
try. As far back as our knowledge ex-
| tends they have always been about the
same. We have every reason to believe
that they are as far advanced now, as
they ever have been. True, some Of the
tribes ike the Algonquins and Iroquois
had a custom Of gathering their dead
every five or six years and heaping
mounds over them.
According to universal custom among
the Indians they buried with them their
implements of war, etc. These mounds
can always be distinguished from those
of the Mengwhi, as those of the latter
are always connected with Notifications
Then when we examine the numerous
relics found in the mounds, we at once
see that the Indians could not have built
these mounds. The Indians had but the
rudest Notifications, had but scantiest
knowledge of sculpture and little or none
of the metals. Yet, here we find the
three carried to a tolerably high state.
The cemeteries of the Mengwhi are
wonderful. Many lie along the Ohio
river, some are miles in extent and are
almost completely filed with human
skeletons. Here also many curious relics
have been exhumed.
They had custom of placing their
dead in caves. They were found in a
tolerably perfect state of preservation by
the early settlers in the Western States.
Their hatred of the Indians was so in
tense, their ignorance so profound, that
they tore them from the caves. and scat
tered their ashes to the four winds.
Civilized % barbarism manifested
itself when Cortez destroyed the Next
can records, also when the Kentucky
pioneers destroyed every vestige of the
embalmed dead of this people.
The Notifications indicate a considera-
bic knowledge of military science, a CO.
operation among the builders, who must
have been very numerous, a powerful
enemy, aad something to defend. These
conditions can only be found where civ
ilization has made considerable progress.
Look at the Notifications of Circleville,
Natchez, along the the western rivers.
They must be of great antiquity, for
those found near lakes Erie and Ontario
never approach nearer the lakes than the
old beach. - 1t was ages ago that the
waters of those lakes washed those an
cient shores. f. II. s.
NEWTON, April 18th, 1878.
Mr.. EDTroR Sitting few evenings