, 1876-02-21

Relies OF IN Ancient City in New
nknlrfh County, Missouri.

Relies OF IN Ancient City in New
Madrid County, Missouri.
81, Louis Republican, Eco. 16.
Capt. Whitley has lust returncd from Now
Madrid County with over 100 moro specimens of
pottery aud rolica Of tho prehistoric residents
OF Missouri, which will he classified and addol
to tho Centennial collection. Capt. Whitley and
tho phrty who accompanied him hnvo lrnced the
romatns OF y former oxtenBivo city, which ehow
the evdoncos Of having beun donaeiy ropn-
lated. Tho city was surrounded by fortiAoa-
ttouR-tho ctnbankmonts with covered wAyH
connecting tho outwprks Of which hayo been
taeod oa fer several s.rxnr Gs os, Tho sssHs
Tor t1o burial Of tho dead, IN which
are found skeotons, associated with drinking
vossels, nfo also found distributed about tha
bisablc traces OF tho dwellings,, Rtroets, and n.y.
enuos, varo also traced over large portions Of
tho grounds. tue proper aurvoy Of Witch would
doubtless tond to throw now light on the origin Of
thcBo peuple. The houseH Wore quito 6usnt,
from 9 to u feet IN diameter, and located about
10 foet apart. 1hey existed in regular rows,
with streets and nronuns running through tho
cty a. rght angles and as pro2Por dstancca apart.
tire structure. Noro made Of a kind Of adobe
brick, OF q rod color like tnodern brick, but Of
coarscr material. Tho brick, specimens Of which
woro brought up hore by Capt. Whitley, have
tA1upSol 0u 0OAoo P4EotIN hQAuuEus 6QPIlo694 U4
Bome TO act as ventllators to tho dwellings,, as,
the bricks being laid ilatwiso In tho wall, tho
sides Of tho house would DO thorcby riercod with
p multitude Ut holcs for tho admission Of the
outside mir.
Another and more probable theory IN. that tho
bricks IN mallea6ls stato wero ptercod ,,ith
round sticks for tho moro readily handling and
burning mud tho sticks having burned out,
lenvo tho Impression OF thcir form, fn the shape
Of hole. Tbu altos Of these nuclent hablta-
tions are plainly observed by q suukeu doprcs.
sion Of soEoral feet In the ground leaving evI.
donca like that Hcon in tho sltes Of demolished
in modern tines. At first alght Of these habits
tions. the observer might ho led to be!ioyc that
tlsse ancient people lived In cellars and built
their housea under ground but this impression
will ynnish on roiccttug that tho accumulated
dcbriB Of ages has ontonbou thcso dwellings, be-
noath tho surface. Destle, on ono sido OF tho
ancient city, thoEe is still lake or marsl, which
at Honle remote period may hare ovotlowed ita
banks su1morglDg portions OF tho site OF tho
ancient city long after It's extinction aud addod
It's dcposita to tho accommodating dob1iB. Tho eite
Of tue CITY a now covered with troeB, mostly oak,
OF al anclent growth. showing that thousands Of
yeala hago rolled round before tho handiwork
OF theEo carly allssourtans was e1hnmed for ox-
hibitlon ct tho Centennial. The pottery brought
up hero this timo by tho lndefat!Eabio anttuliAr-
ian, Botue OF which was taken out on Saturday
ias co"sIsts a.sey Of drinking culinary
aro aleo rude trowels and tools used for fashion-
Ing and ornamnnsing tho pottery, and wllct.
stones for Sharpening tho atone axes and other
Instruments In uso. but the fantastic character
Of tho ornn,nontation OF the yeHaols ia what
Htrikos ovBry ono with 1nrprise. There are very
accurate figures Of fish, frogs, holgel,ogy, aud
such animals as existed at tho timo; 6csidos,
among tho feathcrcd tribes arc Tho gooso, duck,
owl, hawk. and probably tho rooster from Ais
comb,
Thero arc miniature b.,sta Of ,ualo hoads carved
out Of olay. representing : typo Of faco moro re-
American Indian; but further aud moro careful
inquiry Is necessary before coming TO any con.
cluslon on this point which would tend 70 settle
tho origin Of those oarIy builders aod .a1-payors
OF tllD Htato