The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-01-29
QUEER INDIAN RELICS.
SOME OF THEM FOUND DOWN
IN GEORGIA..
EVidences also Found OF Race that Annotated
the Indian Himself-Queer Ute nsils,
Arms and Other Things-They
Played Games-Pipes. f.. ~s'....

A county In Georgia without q low
er's leap, from whose eminence some
Indian maiden had sprang into the
arms OF death with her brave sweet
heart belonging to rival tribe, would
Do considered fit county into which
missionary should be sent This ro-
nance may be repeated for Nachoo-
chez, with the addition that the hero
Inc, In stead OF being dashed to pieces,
was buried with honor in the valley
below, and the exact spot is shown to
travellers.
Ibis region was certainly the favor
ed resort OF very advanced tribe of
Indians, and Nacoochee valley was
their home and burial ground. as is
evidenced by the many curious and
well-carved relics found there. Can't.
Nichols whose home is in the centre
OF the valley, has large cabinet of
them, all found around his house,
which IS perhaps, the finest collection
IN Georgia, except the one in possess
sion of Col. Charles C. Jones of
Augusta. Some of them were found
by the miners on Dukes Creek, while
others were taken from Indian graves
that surround the mound in front of
Capt. Nicholas house. This aborigi-
nal cemetery was accidentally discov-
cred by Capt. Nichols, and every
grave he opens adds to his store of
relics 1t seems that the ground
around the mound was covered with
rock piles and Capt. Nichols set to
work to remove them. Beneath each
pile were found human bones, mixed
with arrow heads, beads, battleaxes,
pipes and other indestructible articles
OF sport, domestic use, and war. But
the most interesting relics taken from
tnese graves We're conch shells, evil
dently brought from the seashore, and
tomahaWk beaten from pure copper
IN It's natural state. though the nearest
point on the continent where such
copper is found is Lake Superior.
Capt. Nichols argues that these In
dlans had communication and COM
mercial relations with the tribes in
habiting both the northern and south
ern borders.
Among the relics found in this val
ley was a bullet made of lead in a.
rough state. There is tradition that
the Indians here mined their own lead,
put the place where they procured it
mas never been found, even if it ex-
lsts The only mineral discovered in
the valley is gold, and the richest
mines in the South are here. On
Dukes creek was found small death
head formed of hard black stone,
with one eye made OF an opal, beauti-
fully worked, and the little trinket
shows considerable artistic skill. This
relic, together with others of a similar
character, must have been imported
by some one from Mexico.
Capt Nichols explained the use of
numerous Indian relics, throwing a
Hood OF light on the subject For in
stance. those round and saucer-shaped
stones of various sizes were used to
play game similar to quoits, at
which the Indians gambled. Instead
OF pitching the stones they rolled them
at pegs. The wedge-shaped stones
were employed to dress hides, while
the small ones were used to work
sinews with. Their tomahawks were
OF a separate shape, and their axes,
instead OF having the handle pass
through them, were enclosed in
split stick, securely fastened with
thongs There was a separate make
OF tomahawk, used by the chiefs and
worn at the bolt for display, that was
sharpened at both sides, and a hole
partially drilled in the center. This
was valuable discovery, as it showed
how the Indians worked this hard
stone with only tho rudest imple-
ments,
There are several very fine speci-
mons OF pipes, including piece of a
pipe OF peace. One pipe excavated
on Dukes Creek, is very valuable
relic, and the United States govern
mont had a cast made OF it, as Capt.
Nioh oils would not part with his trea-
sure- 1t is carved out of rock, and
the bowl is made TO represent the
mouth of a whip poor-will, the beak
OF an eagle projecting over it. The
ears OF a fox aud other ures are also
chiselled on it. 1t Is us Inc carving
as one would wish to see.
There are a number Of graves around
the mound not yet opened. Capt
Nichols says the mound in front OF
his house, which he has planted with
flowers and ornamented with a sum-
mer-house, is just as he found it when
ho bought the place. Its surface is
fiat, and from its summit a fine view
OF the upper portion OF the valley can
be had. No excavation has eve been
made In this mound as its shape and
other evidences known TO the ethnol-
ogists show that It was built by q race
antedatin9 the Indians. who did mt