The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1891-07-28
STRANGE INDIAN RELICS.

Indications Of the Fornss Existence q
Educated Aborigines In the South.
There is ample proof that the Missis-
sippi valley and a great portion Of the
southern states was formerly the abode
of a vast population of Indians, not such
savages as we know now. but people Of
considerable education and mechanical
knowledge.
Nacooche county, in Georgia, was GER
tainly the favored resort of a very ad-
vanced tribe of Indians. as is evineed by
the many curious and wel.-carved relics
found there.
Capt. Nichols, well-known Geor-
gian. has been very enthusiastic in ex-
ploring the graves and mounds and his
discoveries have been many and valu-
able.
In each grave were found bones mixed
with arrow-heads. beads, battle-axes,
pipes and other indestructibie. articles
of sport, domestic use and war. But
the most interesting relics taken from
these graves were conch-sheil>. evident
ly brought from the sea-shore. and a
tomahawk beaten from pure copper in
its natural state, though the nearest
point on the continent where such cop
per is found is Lake Superior.
Among the relics found in this valley
was bullet made of lead, although no
like mineral has been discovered within
many miles. On Dukes creek was found
q small deaths head" formed of a hard
stone, with one eye made of an opal.
beautifully worked, ard 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 has explained the use
of numerous relics Round and saucer
shaped stones of various sizes were
used to play a game similar to quoits.
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 various
shapes, and their axes, instead Of hav-
ing the handle pass through them, were
inclosed in q split stick, securely fast
ened with thongs
There was a separate make Of toma-
hswk. used by the chiefs and worn at
the telt for display. that was sharpened
at botE sides and hole partially drilled
in the center. This WAS valuable dis
covery, as Il showed how the Indians
worked this hard stone with only the
rudest implements
There are several very fine speci-
mems Of pipes One excavated on
Dukes creek is very valuable relic,
and the United States government had
a cast made of it, q, Capt Nichols
would not part with his treasure. 1t Is
carved ont of rock. and the bowl Is
made to represent the mouth OF q whip
poor-will, the beak of an eagle project
ing over it The ears of fox and otfer
figures are also chiseled on it. II is a:
fine a carving Is one would wish to see.
In Whites Historical Collections of
Georgia" is mentioned the unearthing.
in 1882, by a party of gold miners, of
buried village of log cabins on Dukes
creek, near Mount Yonah. These cab
ms were about thirty in number, made
of hewn logs. and in one was found
willow basket, and in others earthen
vessels.
These houses were ten feet or more
beneath the surface of the ground. and
the oaks growing upon them, and other
evidences. showed that several centuries
had elapsed since they had been erected.
The theory of the history Of this
buried town is very plausible. The
story is that DeSoto and his soldiers, in
their march to the Mississippi, after
reaching the headwatcrs Of the Savan-
nah river, struck across into this valley.
This region was then occupied by two
very fierce and warlike tribes OF Indi-
ans, in conflict with each other, but
when they heard Of the white strangers
marching into the country, they united
their armies to resist the invasion. They
succeeded in checking DeSoto. who was
finally driven upon the Yonah. where
he fortified himself, and 1t was his sol
diers who built these cabins as protec-
ton against the winter.
Capt Nichols SAYS he has himself
seen, near the cabins ON this side of the
mountain, a harricade formed OF loose
stones, and this is said to have been the
work of the adventurous Spaniard and
his men. To strengthen this theory,
the opal eyed death-head was found
near here, and it is too fine trinket TO
have been the handiworlx of Indians.
Another curiosity of the valley Is
great mound, the summit Of which the
Indians leveled off perfectly fat and
smooth for a space Of nearly two acres
Some authorities believe the leveling to
have been the work Of a race antedat-
ing the Indians, but it Is certain that
these latter people used the space as a
ball ground-Thomas Long, in Golden
ncys.
jay Gould may be forgiven some of
his sins, but nobody would think Of con-
doning such POPULARITY as he has been
indulging in on his southern trip. For
instance, looking out of his car window
he said to an Atlanta reporter: ''why