Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-08
The Anshropelogical society.

PROCEEDINGS AT THE MEETING LAST NIGHT.
The Anthropological Society met Tuesday
night, DR.. j. NJ. Toner in the chair and Prof E r.
Reynolds secretary. PROT Mason called atten-
ton TO convenient box OF walnut presented
by Mr.. j. e. I1bbey, OF Georgetown, in which to
deposit notes and queries. In it had been de-
posted several papers by members, on one Of
here give the origin of tho horseshoe myth"
Some remarks were made respecting this myth,
and 1t is probable paper will be prepared on
the subject and read at future meeting.
"TUCKAHOE."
Prof Mason reminded the members of the fact
that at former meeting he had occasion to
speak Of the various kinds of food consumed by
Chesapeake bay, among which was "tuckahoe,r
a root of fungi, which the Indians used for
bread He had but vague knowledge of 1t,
IN rom 81 az
Va, a sample Of it, which he exhibited to the
members, who scanned it with considerable
curiosity. 1t is dry and hard from age, but
resembles broken portion of a large Dubious
root, with dark and rather rough exterior sur
face, but the inside OF whitish and granulated
appearance. Prot. Mason explained that its
mode OF preparation when dry was to reduce 1T
to fine powder and mix with other substances
composing the bread.
SHE'LL HEAPS OF MARYLAND
Mr.. j. D. MCGUIRE, of Ellieott'S Mills Nd, de-
livered an interesting lecture on the shell heaps
o. South river, MAI yland describing their fOrma-
ton, extent, the stone implements, remains of
pottery ware fOundtn them, etc. He exhibited
a great variety Of stone implements, which he
had found in the vicinity Of these she'll heaps, of
very superior finish; one, an immense axe, ap-
parently OF granite, spear heads, arrow points,
drills, &C. He stated that in all his researches
in these shell deposits he had found no human
bones, while those OF fish, birds and manuals
were quite abundant Charcoal and remains Of
charred wood were also found frequently. His
theory as to the absence of human bones was,
that the aborigintes being of migratory habits,
remaining about the bays and rivers in the sum-
mer, and returning to the forests of the interior
country in the winter season, carried their dead
to distant parts for Sepulture.
Discussion followed by DR.. Toner. DR.. Carpen-
ter, Prof Wilson, Prof. Mason and others.
THE OLD TIME FISHERIES.
In his remarks Prof. Mason alluded to the re-
ports Of immense quantities of shad and herring
formerly caught in the Potomac and other rivers
of the Chesapeake bay. Reports in the-newS-
papers of the past tell of the immense haulS of
these fish, and state that for many years in the
early history OF the settlement it was with great
ashore for the number and weight of fish, 1t
was fair to presume that the old tribes that once
inhabited these regions fed upon these fish as
well as on the shell fish.
INDIAN IMPLEMENTS OF STONE.
DR.. Reynolds. called the attention of the so
ciety to some specimens Of class Of stone i'm.
plements frequently found in this region of
country-spectmens of which he exhibited,
found in the neighborhood Of this city and
within the District. They are hand fnstru-
mentS and were evidently used as choppers for
meat and other food in preparing it.
Prof. Wilson suggested the propriety and
Feasibility of getting up an exploring tour next
summer by the society to examine the shell
deposits. Indian cemeteries and other ancient
relics on the banks of the rivers emptying into
the Chesapeake bay. He made motion look
ing to this end, which after some discussion.
was referred to the council,