The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1884-02-08

There are some anatomical matters
that are Of minor Importance TO the
general reader, but arc Of interest to
che anatomist and anthropelogist, which
l will not take space here to mention.
The reason Why ] mention the condition
OF their teeth IL, that 30 far "a my
observation goes or information from
others has bsen obtained, tho original
Indian Of this country, before the
sweet meats and high seasoning Of
civilized races were carried into their
wigwam, their tssth wero frequently
worn down, but never deoaysd. The
ssmi-civilizsd young digger Of the prss-
abt day, ohe~s tobacco, eats taffy and
drinks whisky, and enjoys the tooth
ache with ss much guSto as the umpire
Of any Of our modern exemplary sscis-
ties.
Warm Spring Johnny, a white man,
who lives with the Indians and claims
10 have been captured and raised by
them from infancy, called and exsmin-
cd the trinksts and volunteered an
opinion. Il is generally believed this
fellow will Finch from the Calling yoke
OF truth, especially when IL conflicts
with bis ideas Of personal provess. but
any one who has taken the time TO read
the history Of the cliff builders of
Arizona and Mexico must acknowledge,
after conversation with hin. that be has
seen much Of those countries and has
ROB store Of Indian legendry at hand.
He says he never knew or heard Of cop
per ornaments among Indians, but the
most positive evidence that this II the
work Of race Of people long since sx-
tinct Is that each tribe, "a far back As
tradition goes, had definite pattern
for an arrow hcad, and under no cir
cunstsness could one infringe upon the
make Of others or change what they
bad adopted as their tribal mark.
Opposing tribes met and had hunting
matches, and when game was killed the
arrow aint in the CARCASS, ia case Of
dispute. settled the question. This
county has been tho home Of the Gala
Pooia tiibe exclusively, III far bnck 40
Indiar history extends, and thess aint
heads are unlike any he ever saw or
heard Of before. As To the mounds,
nsither Indian tradition nor mytholosy
offers . word. He says the old Indians
sAy before they knew Of tho existence
Of the white man there were big canoes
(scsan ships) beachsd at Port Oxford
snd Coos Bay. from which queer things
vsrs obtained. Thsy describe having
gotten an instrument harder than rock
and ia the shape Of . tsmahawk that
astonishsd them by eating wood 90 fast
"A broad axe. Also nails and other
things TO them strange.
The farm on which We made these
excavations was homesteaded By q white
man thir.y-shree years ago, and the
general history Of Oregon reaches much
father back than that. but who the
mound builders were or who were in
terrsd in them 10 answered by silence.
The mounds evidently date 10 the same
era Of the mounds of the middle and
southern states aud are Of prehistoric
times. SO far ~ known they are the
sounds Of. race that lived before the
Pilgrim fathers, but to thsorizs I have
on time just now.
This article was hurrisdly written,
without time for revision, but hope
the future will give ne time to pay just
attention to this interesting subject, and
l would also to thankful II anyone who
may feel interested enough, as I hear
many are since these Developments, to
open up these mounds would note all
minrtia and report the same to ms for
compilation for distant scientific in
stitutiou that has made like request
Of me.
Most Respectfully,
J. l.. HILL.