Daily globe., 1883-08-18

Prof. Campbell advanced the theory
that the mounds were constructed for
some worship, in which he was contro-
verted by Prof. Putnam, who said they
were the sites of villages.
LIFE AMONG THE MoHAwKs.
Mrs. Erminnie A. Smith, read the next
paper, Life Among the Mohawks in the
Catholic Missions of Quebec Province"
Before commencing her paper the lady
exhibited number of curiosities she had
gathered in her researches among the In
dians in question. A copy of Bible
used by the Jesuit missionaries among
them, issued in 1850, wampum belts, man
uscripts written in the French and
Mohawk languages of a correspond
ing date with the Bible. The paper was
descriptive of the life of the Indians at
the present time, interspersed with old
legends and historical "reminiscences, with
personal descriptions of their religious
customs, habits of life, etc, the whole
forming one of tho most interesting pa
pers yet read.
METRICAL STANDARD OF THE MOUND BUILD
ERs.
The next paper, "Metrical Standard of
the Mounders, by the Method of Easy Di-
vision," by Prof. Charles Whittelsey, was
read by the secretary in the
absence of the author. The
paper was mainly statement of the work
already accomplished in the surveys of
mounds found : in different portions of
Ohio, with a general description of the
foundation of the mounds, showing them
to have been built after general plan,
and that the builders had and employed
units of measurement in the work, but
what the subdivisions were is yet prob
imatical.
Upon the conclusion of this paper a
recess was taken until 2:30.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Upon coming together for the afternoon
session, the first paper was "The Mound
Builders Identified" by John Campbell, of
Montreal. In the absence of the author,
the secretary read the paper. The paper
commenced the history of these people in
III B. O., and followed them into Assyria,
India; Siberia, Japan, and finally into the
new world and the Mississippi valley, as
shown by inscriptions, ETC., found In these
countries and in the sorts of the languages
rsed, represented by the Dakota, the
Wyandotte, the Choctaws, the Paduca, in
the Indian families of to-day and the Az
tees.
Typical shapes among the emblematic
mounds. The different attitudes assumed
by the same animal,' by S. d. Pitt, was
the next paper. The lecture was illus
trated, giving views of animals, birds, fish,
representatives of buffalo and deer drives
found in mounds in Wisconsin. Efigies
of eagles seemed to predominant in the
Wisconsin mounds. They are large, 60 to
80 feet in length, and wings 80 to 40 feet
One representation exhibited was of a
squirrel with a tail 800 feet long, an altar
mound on a very high hill, sacrifcial
altar, etc.
Next paper by Judge E. P. West was
read by DR.. Case, of Kansas City. Its title
was: personal observations of the Mis-
souri, river mounds from Omaha to st.
Louis, considered from geological stand
point. Their invariable association with
the loess and terrace formations" The
paper was confined in great measure to
the age of the mounds as indicated by the
geological formations with which they
stand invariably associated. In extent,
these monuments of the past ages, in one
unbroken chain, form conspicuous land
marks, crowning the river bluffs from
Omaha, Neb., to st. Louis, Mo-
the highest Ioess bluffs overlooking
the streams. 1t is fact not disputed by
geologists that the loess deposit was made
in lakes of still water, and that terraces
were formed by shore washings. Reason
ing from these brief assumptions of rec
ognized facts, the essayist held that the
occupancy of the mound builders began
prior to the subsistence of the Missouri
river and Kansas lakes, and that it was not
continued long thereafter. Their distinc-
tive characteristics, at any rate, ceased
long before the European touched foot
upon the continent. The question is,
were they exterminated by neighboring
nomadic tribes, or did they become them
selves nomadic in their habits.
The secretary then read paper by Mrs.
A. G. Fletcher on 'Some Observations on
tie Laws and Privileges of the Gems in In
dian Society" The essayist commenced
by saying: The work of placing the Oma-
ha tribe of Indians upon their lands in
severalty and adjudicating the line of
descent and inheritance according to the
white law has afforded me an opportunity
for close observation of the Gentle system
and the tenacity of certain customs. A
child losing its father or mother is consid-
cred an orphan, and it passes into
Gems. If the father has died the child is
separated from the mother, going to the
fathers relatives. Widows generally marry
again in a year or two, often remarrying
third time. In grouping children by
their Gems and int2 families, I have found
men claiming children not of their own
body. 1t appears well proven that whether
the Gems goes with the father or mother,
the right of the parent is secondary to the
Gems even in the disposal of the child. In
case of the death of a father it
is not considered so much
the duty of the mother to work for her
children as for the relative of the father.
The broad family likeness noticed among
whites is wanting among full blooded
Indians. The mixed bloods form marked
contrast in this respect. Young men
whose mothers are of the same genus are
brothers to each other. but the brothers of
the mothers are uncles. The lady men
toned many other peculiarities, the group
ing making an interesting paper.
Prof. S. D. Peet followed with de-
scription of an ancient village of the en-
blemetic mound builders, illustrated with
caches guarded by efigies, efigies guard
ing the village, and sacrifciaI places not