The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-04-21

rage, and in the nature of things the elements
of all kinds contributing to disaggregation
and incoherence must be both more numerous
and more powerful among undeveloped peo
pies.
Those Of whom we are speaking at present
had arrived at the age of cut and polished
stone. They made pines and vases of this ma
terial and carved it into the likeness of AMI
mails with which they were familiar. Indeed,
this kind of sculpture may be called character
istic Of the prehistoric Americans Farther
if utensils of the same kind be taken together,
there is little doubt that "alike in material
execution, and ornamentation ceramic art in
this country surpassed that belonging to cen
trail Europe in q similar period.
That immense area between the Ohio River
and Gulf Of Mexico, the Mississippi and the
Allegsnies has been peopled for an unknown
time. The multiplicity and variety OF its
structures witness TO the presence Of numer-
Gus population, whose general likeness ia es-
tablished by those evidences which the mounds
have preserved. These indicate similar burial
rites, arts and industries. N0mads could never
have thrown up intrenchments equal in extent,
and, in fact, would have had no motive for
doing so.
The same reasoning applies to their substruct-
ures for temples and fortified Enclosure. for
public assemblies. Multtudes such as labored
here must have been largely supported by ag-
riculture, and they were most probably In some
degree pastoral also. Whether their construc-
tons were effected by continuous work or
whether they are to be looked upon as of grad
nal growth, social organization to the degree
that in those days the multitude were under
some kind Of abiding control and direction Is
an unavoidable conclusion, not only from all
the circumstances attaching TO this particular
instance and from everything that Is known of
the characters Of unevolved mankind every
where.
Little more than this can be said without
going into details and explanations for which
there is space. 60 far as the implications
of natural science apply to the und-builders,
there Is no more reason for supposing that
special type of mankind onco inhabited the
region where their works exist and then passed
away utterly than there Is for the old opinion
that genera and species in zoology are discon-
tinuous and stand by themselves 1t has been
pointed out that Paleolithic men were distrib-
uted generally over the continent, and that be-
fore these the California Gold Drift contained
the relic Of far more ancient race.
Nothing warrants denial Of the general re-
lations of succession between all the human in
habitants Of the Western World, which has evil
IDENTIFY been populated long enough for the eyo-
luton Of those differences by which they are
marked
1t remains to say that, slthongh this race, so
far as anatomical evidence goes, was al inferior
orc, Il had made certain definite and unnis-
taxable advance in mental development. Man,
living or dead, and mortal power no longer
limited the possibilities of conception concern
ing the highest being, and had ceased to be
the center and source Of all manifestations of
energy. They had generalzed the eficiencies
| of the ghost, and attained to view, however
| imperfect, Of impersonal action In nature The
sun reviyifed the earth, and in its benefcence
was alike towards all. This they worshiped
with cults differing in development, but, in so
| far as is known alleged in all cases by tho sur
viyal Of those darker superstitions belonging to
an earlier social state, according to which
human sacrifice, for instance, as being one in
which immolatiOn was made of life more val
| liable than that OF the beasts was looked upon
as most pleasing TO the Deity.
Again, as the other world was a counterpart
of this one, and the needs and feelings Of the
spirit were unchanged by its departure here,
as elsewhere they murdered and buried alive
the wives and retainers of a chief in order that
be might be properly attended in the realms
OF shade
| IL is probable, however, that in some places
mortuary rites and their accompanying beliefs
had transcribed the epoch in which the ghost
was considered TO be altogether the same with
! living being and this aud the other world
| to be identical. The earthen images found in
! several sepulchral mounds are most likely sub
stitutes for actual victims. They symbolic
/ the ritualstic conception, but belong to a date
! in which certain Standardization Of sacri-
! fee succeeded its earlier barbarities as O conse
Quence of intellectual growth.
The foregoing statements contain most of
| what is known concerning the Mound builders
! Further south these earthworks are replaced by
stone structures, and as an intermediate term
between these and the remains of partially
settled Indian tribes may be placed those
remains that are known under the general
/ name Of clif-dwellinqs.
There is no certainty about the"schronology
of these monuments, and 1T is impossible to
say how far back in time the Pueblos of Ari-
coma extend, or when those eyries in the rocky
sides Of the southwestern canyons ceased to af.