ANCIENT WALLS, FORTIFICATIONS, ETC. 29 40. In the numerous remains of walls, fortifications, and cities, scattered throughout North America, we have still more remarkable evidence of mechanical skill in the early inhabitants. At least a hundred of these works have been discovered in the state of New York; but they are yet more numerous throughout our Western and Southern country, as well as in Central America and Mexico. They display no little knowledge of engineering and architecture; while the size of some of them proves that multitudes of men must have united in their construction. In Gasconade County, Missouri, under a tract covered with large cotton-trees and full-grown poplars, are still to be seen stone foundations, the remains of houses, and other ruins of an ancient town regularly laid out in squares and streets. Among the most remarkable ruined fortifications are those near Newark, Ohio, at the junction of two branches of the with ment and connected on the north by two covered ways the river, and on the south by parallel walls with a circular hood? 40. What other remarkable remains have we? How many of these works have been discovered in N. Y.? does the size of some of them prove? Mo.? What ruins are mentioned as Where are they most numerous? What What are still to be seen in Gasconade Co., among the most remarkable? Describe fort. Another pair of walls running west, joins these forts with two others, four miles distant from them. One of these is circular; the other, octagonal. The former contains an observatory of earth and stone; and from the latter, parallel walls are traceable several miles southward into the country. From the occurrence of similar remains at intervals, it is supposed that these works were connected with others thirty miles distant. 41. Mexico and Central America abound in extensive ruins, the remains of pyramids, temples, and cities, equal in magnificence to the grandest of the old world. The city of Mexico alone contained two thousand py-ram'-id-al mounds, the largest of which, 121 feet high, was built but a short time before the country was explored by Cor'-tez. Many of these works, however, like the ruined walls discovered in the United States, are evidently centuries old. Among them are finely sculptured columns, statues of idols, vast altars, immense edifices, massive aqueducts, and roads said to have been the best in the world. The pyramid of Tezcuco [teskoo'-ko] is a specimen of the most delicate workmanship. It was built of large blocks of basalt, highly polished and beautifully sculptured. The largest Mexican pyramid is that of Cholula [cho-loo'-lah], built of alternate layers of clay and unburnt bricks. It is 1,423 feet long, and 177 feet high. Like nearly all the other works of this class, it was devoted to religious purposes. 42. Both Mexico and Peru, when first explored by Spaniards, were the seats of powerful nations, possessing regular systems of government and religion, acquainted with the arts and sciences, and widely different from the savage tribes of the North. The soil was well cultivated and checkered with numerous cities, some of which are said to have contained several hundred thousand inhabitants. Indeed, the great How many them. 41. In what do Mexico and Central America abound? mounds did the city of Mexico contain? When was the largest of these built? How high was it? What is said of the age of many of them? Of what do these remains consist? What pyramid exhibits the most delicate workmanship? Of what was it built? What was the largest Mexican pyramid? Of what is it built? What are its dimensions? 42. What was the character of the Mexicans THE MEXICANS AND PERUVIANS. 31 works alluded to above could not have been built had not the country been densely populated. 43. The Mexicans and Peruvians were no doubt descendants of the earliest settlers of the continent, who, as before described, emigrated to it at so early a period that they still retained the arts known in the East. They originally occupied the fertile valleys of our great North American rivers, and left in them numerous monuments of their industry and skill. Allured by the more genial climate or driven out by later emigrants from Asia, they afterwards found their way southward, and finally settled in the fertile plains of Central America and Peru. There, leading an agricultural life, they retained their knowledge of art for many generations; while the northern tribes, neglecting tillage and giving themselves up to the chase, sunk deeper and deeper in barbarism. That such is their history we have additional proof in the resemblance between the skulls of the ancient mound-builders, as found in their burial-places, and those of the Mexican Indians, both strikingly different from the skulls of the northern tribes. The National Annals of the Mexicans, moreover, state that they originally dwelt in the North, whence they commenced migrating in the sixth century, under their illustrious emperor, Citin [se-tin']. CHAPTER V. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDIANS. 44. Personal Appearance.-Though the first European settlers observed some points of difference in the appearance of the various Indian tribes, yet there was a strong general resemblance between them. They were all distinguished by and Peruvians, when first known to the Spaniards? What is said of their soil and cities? What proves the population to have been dense? 43. Of whom were the Mexicans and Peruvians no doubt descendants? Where did they originally live? What induced them to change their location? What kind of a life did they lead? What proof have we that such is their history? What do the National Annals of the Mexicans say on this point? 44. By what were all the Indians distinguished? Describe their forms. a bronze or copper color, straight, coarse, black hair, hazel eyes, and high cheek-bones. Their forms were erect, well proportioned, and remarkable for agility rather than strength. Their constant exercise kept them healthy. Deformity was almost unknown among them; and they were exempt from many of the diseases of civilized life. Descriptions of the Indians, as they originally appeared, have been left by many of the early adventurers; among others by Verrazzani [vā-rat-tsah'-ne], who first saw them on the coast of New Jersey and Staten Island, eighty-five years before the discovery of the Hudson River. He was there visited by an Indian chief, whom he describes as arrayed in a robe of deer-skins skilfully wrought with embroidery. His hair was gracefully tied behind, and his neck was adorned with a large chain set off with various stones. According to this author, the people generally had regular features, dark expressive eyes, and long locks which they dressed with care. The women were attired in ornamented skins; their hair was tastefully braided and flowed over the breast. The southern Indians wore head-dresses of feathers. As the heat increased towards the south, the clothing of the natives became lighter and scantier; and in the warmest regions much of the body was left bare. 45. Mode of Living.-When engaged in the chase or in warlike expeditions, which occupied a great part of his time, the Indian was exposed to the full force of the weather, lying on the ground without shelter and with no other protection than a fire to prevent attacks from the beasts of the forest. At home, he lived in a rude hut, made of poles covered with bark or skins, and called a wigwam [wig'-wom]. This was erected with little labor, and was abandoned when he was obliged to change his residence. Wigwams were generally found grouped together in villages. From what were they exempt? By whom have descriptions of the Indians been left? Where did Verrazzani first see them? What does he say about the chief who visited him? How does he describe the people generally? How were the women attired? What did the southern Indians wear? 45. When engaged in the chase or a warlike expedition, what shelter and protection had the Indian? At home, in what did he live? Describe the wigwam. 46. How did the Indian MODE OF LIVING. 3833 46. Food.-During many months of the the Indians lived year, by hunting, fishing, or digging roots from the ground. When these resources failed, they fell back on maize, or Indian corn, which was almost the only plant they attempted to cultivate. The labor of raising it devolved on the women, who planted it in holes dug in the ground with a rude implement. Manual labor of every kind was considered beneath the dignity of a warrior; the women, therefore, not only tilled the ground, but also erect AN INDIAN WIGWAM. ed the wigwams, cut their wood in the forest, prepared the meals, mended the moccasins, and even carried the baggage on a march. It was characteristic of the Indians never to provide much food at a time, and therefore they often suffered from hunger. But trials of this kind they were trained to endure without a murmur. When food was plenty, they made up for their privations by eating as much and as often as they could. Some of the tribes were better agriculturists than others, and in good seasons raised more corn than they needed for their own use. This was the case with the natives of Vir mostly obtain his subsistence? On what did they sometimes fall back? Who raised the maize, and how? How was manual labor regarded? What were the women obliged to do? How was it that the Indians often suffered from hunger? How did they make up for their privations? What is said of the agricultural operations of some of the tribes? How was it with the Virginia tribes? What |