The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-13

are known TO have offered human sacri-
flee. Foster. In referring to this remark
able find, says that It may have been
In commemoratOn of the capture of a
noted captain, the sentence OF death hav-
ing been pronounced against him.
Among these rare collections of Mr..
Beckwith may be seen images Of animals
that are to-day peculiar to the country,
in which they were found. The deer,
squirrel rabbit, fox bear and other ami
mails, and most wonderful Of all, an ant
eater. Just where they got their knowl-
edge of this animal is a mystery, for It
Is not indigenous to the North American
continent nor can another relic of this
kind be found in any other collection.
The drinking vessels In Mr.. Beckwith's
collection prove quite an interesting at
traction. OF these no has several hun
dred. Some OF them are plain resembling
the decanter used to-day. Most Of them,
however, are beautified, according TO their
makers idea OF beauty. Engraved like
nesses OF fishes, birds and animals, Of peo-
pie and plants adorn them. Their form
Of government Is barely suggested by one
image on a water vessel. IL is that Of a
crowned head. II may be, however that
this was but a picture Of fancy gained
from tradition or solely from Imagination:
or II may be that they were governed by
a monarch whose will was law The most
interesting division OF this collection is the
one that pertains solely 20 their mode Of
burial. from the fact that more Is known
OF this than any other OF the mound build
era' customs. Large burial urns, beauti-
ful and symmetrical. IN which were dcpos-
tied the skulls and large bon8a Of the skei-
etons, have been dug out Of these mounds
where they were found Ia beds OF ashes
Grouped around these urns were vessels.
images and idols.
These finds are especially noticeable from
the body are abscnG leading us 20 believe
that the body OF a dead mound builder
was laid away In some remote place until
the flesh decOmpOsed, and then, FIRST Of all
the skull was secured, and next tho large
bones, and after securely tying them to-
gethor they were placed In tho urn, while
the small bones were ignored Mr.. Beck
with IN giving his idea Of their mode OF
burial, said: II am Of the opinion that
their burial was much like that Of the In.
dian. but that u was carried further. The
Indians. certain tribes OF them, wrap the
bodies Of their dead IN the skins Of an
finals. and place them among the branches
OF trees. or IN some secluded spot. After
they are thoroughly decomposed they are
removed We have no evidence, however
that they then deposited them IN urna
The mound builders gathered up the bones
and placed them IN the burial urns. heapod
around them q funeral pyre ana probably
kept Il burning for a long time. In no
other way can u be accounted for that
they are found Ia beds OF ashes. II is an
old custom, from time immemOriai" be
continued, "amoug some races TO deposit
with the dead implements ana vessels OF
some description. The ancient Greeks
buried with their heroes their trophies OF
war ana those things Illuminate dear TO
them. The same WAS a practice with the
Babylonlans, and IF very similar " that
81 lbs mound bUllderBs