The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-09-13

elsewhere printed, makes us regret hav-
ing m islaid a somewhat extended article.
reviewing the controversy between Mann
s. Valentine, of Richmond, and certain
eminent soUants, relative to a large num-
Der of Indian relics found in North Caro-
lima, and, if of conceded antiquity, liable
to overturn many time settled theories Of
American Ethnology. If our original
article should happen to turn up, we
may yet print it.
Meantime, we remark that the open
ing up, and settling up, Of the Blue
Ridge region is likely to bring to light
many singular discoveries, as unsuspect-
ed as was the existence of the valuable
gem, Htddente, until un-earthed. There
have been from the earliest periods vari
Gus vague traditions concerning marvel
lous deposits of gold and silver at divers
points in the mountains. One story tells
how the Spaniards who followed Ponce
De Leon in search of the mythical
Fountain of Perpetual YOUTH found
the natives adorned with rings on their
fingers and bells on their toes Of pre-
cious metals, which they said came from
the land of the setting SUM- the high
lands of the West ; and when a large par
ty of the adventurous cavaliers were
piloted into the wilderness (now Western
N. c. they found plenty of gold, but no
way to escape with it, and were there
kept for the remainder of their lives ;
leaving no traces of their story, except
various deep pits, and clay crucibies,
and-a somewhat numerous progeny of
gray eued Indians. For circus uses.
Certain it is, there are not a few evil
depces of prehistoric cultivation that
have been discovered among the noun
tains. At Hickory Nut Gap are three large
round pools, one emptying into the other,
and all said to be fathomless. They
have circular walls, and appear to have
been fashioned, not by Nature but by
hand. Near the same spot are caves, in
which stone crucibles. or ''hominy pots
were found an hundred years ago.
One of our friends who knows as much
about Western N. c. as any nan living,
not long ago purchased a tract of wild
timbered lend in-weil, let us say West
of Pigeon River. Travelling through the
wilderness one day, he noticed several
ancient signs deeply cut into the side of a
large beech tree. There was a turtle
shaped figure, with one foot touching
five rings with a curve between each.
Having some knowledge of Indian sym
Dol language he concluded that the tor
toise was meant to point towards five
pits the curves indicating three ranges
of mountain. After much search among
the ridges, he found the fee pits-and
from appearances they had been dug by
men who knew how to mine. But why
did they dig? And why the signs
pointing to them? One remarkable
thing was that in the pits were oak trees,
several feet in diameter. which must
have grown since the pits were digged
so that the latter are over one hundred
years old. There were no signs of min
erals except that in front Of the mouth
of a cave near by were several broken
''%crucibles," heavily charred by fire.
The ave has never been explored nor
have the pits been examined the owner
not caring to pursue his Investigations
until more at leisure. And we are re-
quested to omit other details for the pres
ent.