worse than useless; its chief event as disgraceful to our humanity, and the general result as most unfortunate. There was no real conquest no genuine submission

nothing is settled permanently not even the "Messiah worship." It is certain that many still secretly believe in its efficacy, since it was stopped by violence. and not suffered to disprove itself.

There has been a marked revival of Indian dress and customs of some of the more objectionable customs since the winter of 189091. There is no security against a second and more serious disturbance of the peace - indeed I think that a "Sioux War" at some future time, is altogether more likely now than it appeared just three years ago.

This peculiar glass-like stone is of volcanic origin. The ancient Mexicans made use of it extensively in the manufacture of implements and ornaments, before the empire of the Aztecs succumbed to the Spanish invaders. Some of the old obsidian mines are still to be seen on the Cerro de Navajas, a small mountain north-east of the City of Mexico. These mines provided the ancient population with large quantities of the muchprized stone from which they made those fine double-edged knives, the arrow and spear-heads, mirrors, and ornaments of various kinds. It is said by one of the old authorities that the soldiers of Cortez used these long, slender, and double-edged blades to shave with. However this may be, they are certainly very keen and will hold an edge a long time.

Mr. E. B. Tylor, an English ethnologist, who visited Cerro de Navajas in 1856, says: "Some of the trachytic porphyry which forms the substance of the hills had happened to have cooled,

under suitable conditions, from the molten state into a sort of slag, or volcanic glass, which is the obsidian in question; and, in places, this vitreous lava, from one layer having flowed over another which was already cool, was regularly stratified. The mines were mere wells, not very deep, with horizontal workings into the obsidian where it was very good and in thick layers. Round about were heaps of fragments (hundreds of tons of them) and it was clear, from the shape of these, that some of the manufacturing was done on the spot. There had been great numbers of pits worked, and it was from these minillas, little mines, as they are called, that we first got an idea how important an element this obsidian was in the old Aztec civilization. In excursions made since, we traveled over whole districts in the plains where fragments of these arrows and knives were to be found literally at every step, mixed with morsels of pottery, and here. and there a little clay idol."

The following communication by Dr. C. H. Berendt, from one of the Smithsonian Reports, is exceedingly interesting:

"During one of many excursions which I made in the years 1853 56 around the Citlaltepetl, or Pico de Orizaba (in the State of Vera Cruz), I saw an obsidian mine upon the western slope of that mountain. I had heard of it from my friend, the late Mr. C. Sartorius, who had visited the place years ago. I was informed that the Indians of the village of Alpatlahua knew the place, but that they did not like to have it visited. Some say they have treasures hidden in the caves of the neighborhood; while others believe that they have idols in those lonely places which they still secretly worship. The cura of San Juan Coscomatepec, who was of the latter opinion, gave me the name of a mestizo farmer in the neighborhood who might be induced to show me the place. Our party followed from Coscomatepec the road which leads to the Rancho Jacal and the pass of La Cuchilla. We did not find the mestizo at home, but his wife, who directed her boy to show us the cave. Reaching the bridge of the Jamapa River, we took a bytook a byroad parting to the north, which brought us to the village of Alpatlahua, and about four miles farther north to a branch of the Jamapa river, which we crossed. We then left the road and proceeded about half a mile up the river through the thick woods, when we found ourselves suddenly before the entrance of the cave. It was about fifty feet high and of considerable width, but obstructed by fallen rocks and

shrubs. Heaps of obsidian chips of more than a man's height filled the bottom of the grotto, which had apparently no considerable horizontal depth. To the left of the mine was seen an excavation of from six to eight yards, the bottom filled with rubbish and chips. Obsidian, evidently, had not only been quarried, but also been made into implements at this spot, the latter fact being proved by the occurrence of cores, or nuclei, of all sizes, from which flakes or knives had been detached. We were not prepared for digging, and it was too late to undertake explorations that day. So we left, with the purpose to return better prepared at another time, hoping to find some relics of the miners and workmen, and, perhaps, other antiquities. But it happened that I never had another opportunity to visit the place again. Mr. Sartorius saw in this cave three entrances walled up with stone and mortar, but these I did not discover, having, as stated, no time for a careful examination. Future travelers I hope will be more successful.

"Mr. Sartorius mentioned another place, likewise in the State of Vera Cruz, where obsidian formerly was quarried. This place is situated in the chain of mountains extending from the Pico de Orizaba to the Cofre de Perote. One of the intervening mountains, called Xalistac, is distinguished by a white spot that can be seen at a distance of many miles, even at Vera Cruz. It is produced by an outcropping of pumice-stone resting upon an immense mass of obsidian that has been worked in various places.

I know the mountain well, but not the road leading to it, never having traveled in that direction."

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Captain Bonneville noticed, about sixty years ago, that the Shoshones or Snake Indians in the neighborhood of the Snake River used arrows armed with points of obsidian, which, he adds, abounds in the vicinity. The latter fact is firmed by Samuel Parker, who found some years later (1835) in the volcanic formations of that region, many large and fine. specimens of pure obsidian or volcanic glass." According to Wyeth, the Shoshones also employ sharp obsidian flakes of convenient shape as knives, which they sometimes provided with handles of wood and horn.

It is know that the various tribes in Arizona, New Mexico, and California, including the Apaches, Mojaves, Yumas, Shastas, and others, frequently employed obsidian in the manufacture of their arrow-heads.

Obsidian occurs also in the Napa Valley (north of San Francisco) where the surface is covered in many places with chips, cores, and fragments to a depth of from six to twelve inches.

The greatest outcropping of this volcanic substance within our borders is to be found on the Yellowstone River in what is now the Yellowstone National Park. Here a part of the driveway has been built of this material, and it has been ground so fine by constant travel, that it assumes the appearance of a hard, macadamized road.

Comparatively little obsidian. has been found east of the Rocky

Mountains. Messrs. Squier and Davis in 1849 found obsidian in the shape of points for arrows, spears and knives, mostly broken, in five mounds of the Scioto Val

ley of Ohio. Scattered pieces

have been found in other States east of the Rocky Mountains.

By far the greatest and most important discovery of this material in the East was made in the Fall of 1891, by the World's Columbian Exposition Survey engaged in the exploration of mounds and earthworks in the Scioto Valley of Ohio. Here a group (the Hopewell Group) of twenty-seven mounds was excavated and examined. While taking out the largest mound of the group, which was 23%1⁄2 feet high, 510 feet long, and 210 feet wide, a clay altar was exposed containing, among many other rare finds, several hundred specimens of beautifully chipped obsidian implements comprising knives, lance, arrow, and spearheads. Several of these were from ten to thirteen inches in length, and others were curved like a scimitar. A great many, however, were charred and broken by the fire that had been built over the altar. No cores, chips, or unfinished pieces were found, which leads to the belief that it was manufactured elsewhere and brought here either by trade or travel probably from the ledge on the Yellowstone River; possibly from Mexico. Undoubtedly much more of this material is to be found in the numerous

unopened mounds of the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys.

It is useless to indulge in speculations as to which of these locali

ties - the ledge on the Yellow

During the Glacial epoch or Iceage many gravel deposits, hills and ridges of pure gravel and sand were left over various parts of Hardin County.

In Taylor Creek Township, 4 miles South of Kenton, is a high gravel-ridge 4 miles in extent, known in Hardin County as the "Devil's Back-bone," ranging from 30 to 90 feet in height, of pure gravel and sand.

The largest part of 300 miles of our County pikes was taken from this ridge. Three railroads in the county have taken out many miles of ballast from this same immense gravel deposit. Dozens of human skeletons have been unearthed while digging out this gravel. Sacrificial altars and charred human bones and many

beautiful relics have been found.

No care was taken by those in charge to study the position and manner of burial, or whether relics had been buried with the remains; but occasionally, some workman accidentally discovered a peculiar looking stone, arrowhead, stone pipe, bird amulet, banner stone, slate ornament, beads, etc. No doubt many beautiful specimens have been lifted out by the huge steam shovel and carried away, never to be seen by human eyes. But notwithstanding this carelessness in regard to the finding of ancient stone and other implements, there are already more specimens saved in Hardin County, than are in the possession of the Archæological Department of the State of Ohio.

I think it a shame, that the great State of Ohio, richer in the remains of prehistoric people than any other state in the Union, does not take more interest in archæology, and give to the world the benefit of the knowledge which can and ought to be developed.

As I said before, many gravel hills or mounds are located in various portions of Hardin County. On the farm of Mr. William Spitzer, 31⁄2 miles north-east of Kenton, there is a gravel deposit probably 8 or 10 rods long and 3. wide. The County Commissioners selected and bought this gravel for pike purposes. About the 10th of August, 1886, the workmen digging and shoveling, unearthed several human skeletons. There were also found in this gravel several slate ornaments, banner stones, arrowheads, etc., and among the gravel and bones a carved shell, of which a piece was broken off, supposedly by the shovel or pick; no care was taken to look for the broken piece, but as the shell was novel in having carving on it, the finder took it home, and accidentally seeing it one day I modestly asked for it and it was given to me. am unable at present to give any further history of the find.

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I had the shell photographed and showed it to Mr. Moorehead last summer, while visiting the Archæological Department at the World's Fair.

I thought it would be interesting to the readers of the "ARCHEOLOGIST," So have had this illustration taken from a photograph, that the peculiar shape of the animal represented in the carving might be seen. What kind of an animal it was to represent I do

not know, although my impression is that it was probably intended to represent a bear. However, the long tail reaching over the body would dispossess that idea. Probably it represents some prehistoric animal. However that may be, I think the specimen decidedly unique and wonderful; and how carving could be done. on such hard material as shell, without steel instruments I cannot understand.

In front of the animal's head are plain and visible tracings of the instrument which was used to carve with; little notches in the mouth to represent teeth are visable; both eyes are on one side as represented in illustration and little depressions are hollowed out in the ears. The two forefeet are not the same shape-two toes, as will be seen on one foot, while there are none on the other; two toes of the hind foot can just be seen where the shell is broken off; two small holes are drilled through the shell, one just opposite the hind foot and between the toes, the other just below it and partly broken out by the lower fragment. The eye-holes are not drilled through, but the hole in front of the eyes, is, as well as the one in the right hand upper corner, beneath which is what I suppose to be intended. for a tail to the animal and which, you can see, runs along the upper border of the shell, ending directly over the animal's neck in a large bunch like a cat-tail; I mean the cat-tail that grows in swamps and marshy places, the Typhalatifolia. Thinking an account of this piece of ancient or pre-historic carving might be interesting to the readers of this magazine, I respectfully submit it.