Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-06-14

;, We are permitted, says the Eureks
Nevada, Sentinel, by a gentleman of tn,
.'place to make public the following inter
testing letter from friend at Payson, Utal
Territory:
SIR: Your latter requesting me to fur
inish you information and description o
the Payson mounds and the late discov.
cries made therein, haye received, and
herewith forward to you such knowledge
of these ancient mounds as I possess
The mounds are situated on what is known
as the Payson tarm, and are six in mum
Der, covering about twenty acres of
ground. They are from ten to eigbtt en-
! feet in height, and from 500 to 1000 feet
in circumference. For years farming was
conducted on the land, and fields of graf u
were planted, grew, and were harvested to
the very base of the homes of the mound
builders, the busy, hare. working toilers
of the field apparently caring little how
or when they came here. About two
years ago several of the residents, whose
curiosity had been arrested regarding the
mounds, concluded to explore their in
terror, to see what could be found in the
way of relics, and perhaps to find the
lglittering treasure that several Spiritual
mediums had said was hidden in one Of
the mounds The explorations have di-
vulged no hidden treasures SO far, bu,
have proven to us that there once un
doubtedly existed here more enlightened
race of humans than that of the Indians
who inhabited this country, and whose
record has been traced back hundreds Of
years. Last year, while engaged IN exca-
vating one of the larger mounds. We
discovered the feet of large skeleton
and carefully removing the hardened
earth in which it was embedded. we sue.
cseded in unearthing the entire skeleton
without injury, The human framework
m~ ,sured six feet, six inches in length,
an rom appearances it was undoubtedly
Of the male gender. In the right hand
was a huge iron or steel weapon, which
had been buried with the body, but which
crumbled to pieces on handling. Neat
the skeleton we also found pieces OF cedar
wood, cut in various fantastic shapes, and
lin a perfect state of preservation, the
carving showing that the people OF this
unknown race were acquainted with the
use of edged tools. We also found
large stone pipe, the stem of which was
inserted between the teeth of the skeleton
The bowl of the pipe weighs five ounces,
made of sandstone, and the aperture fol
the tobacco had the appearance OF being
drilled out. The inhabitants here say
race cf people existed here 400 years
ago, and belonged TO tribe known as lh'
Nephltcs, who were often referred to il
the Book of Mormon, which also speak
of terrible encounters these people hat
with their ancient enemy, the Lamonites
We found another skeleton nearthe on
above mentioned, which was not quite a
large, and must be that of woman
There was neatly carved tombst one u
the head of this skeleton. Close by, tn
floor was coyered with a hard cement, t
all appearance a part of the solid rock
which, after patient aud exhaustive labor
we succeeded in penetrating and found
was but the corner of box simllarl.
CONSTRUCTED, in which We found abou
three pints of wheat kernels, most o
which dissolved when brought in contac
with the light and cir.
J We have found many curiosities in tn
mounds belonging to this ancient rae
once inhabiting this section. We fin
!. houses in all the mounds, the rooms
which are as perfect as the day they wer
built. All the apartments are nicely pas
tered, some in white, others in red color
crockery ware, cooking utensils, vases
many of a pattern similar to the presen
age-are also found. Upon one larg
stone jug or vase can be traced perfee
3 delineation of the mountains near her
, for distance of twenty miles. We hav
found several mlll-stones used in grindin
corn, and plenty of charcoal corn cobs
with kernels not unlike what we know q
yellow dent-corn. We judge, from on
observations, that these ancient dwellel
of our country followed agriculture for
livelihood, and had many of the arts an
sciences known 10 US, as we found mold
> made of clay. for casting different ,mple
ments, needles made of deer horns, an
lasts made of stone, and which were
good shape. We also found many trinh
, cts, such rs white stone beads and maj
blcs. as good as new; also small square
of polished stone resembling dominoe
for what use intended we cannot d.
}. termine. have endeavOred to give 20
s full description of the explorations
far. .-
i Shaking Hands.
Some years ago the Observer publishe
!. the following in regard 10 the custom
shaking hands. Has anything more del
nite been given on the subject
"This. rs we'll as most other model
''Iforms of salutatiOn and civility, WI
derived from war, aud they all betoke
some Difference, as from conquered pc