the base of this mound is a
natural formation. Lumps of sun-dried, or partially burnt clay, used
as plastering on the houses of the Mound Builders, gave rise to a
sensational account of a wall of sun-dried bricks two feet thick,
supporting the mound on the northern side.<39> The famous Messier Mound,
in Georgia, is said to reach a height of ninety-five feet. But a large
part of this elevation is a natural eminence; the artificial part is
only a little over fifty feet.

Illustration of Etowah Mound, Georgia.-----------

A work of unusual interest occurs on the Etowah River, Georgia. This cut
gives us a plan of the work. We notice, first of all, the moat or ditch
by which they fortified their position. The ditch is still from five
to twenty-five feet deep, and from twenty to seventy-five feet wide.
It connects directly with the river at one end, but stops short at the
other. It surrounds nearly fifty acres of land. At two points we notice
reservoirs, each about an acre in size, and an average depth of not less
than twenty feet. At its upper end is an artificial pond. This ditch,
with its reservoirs and pond, is no slight work. The large mound seen in
the center of the space is one of the largest of the temple mounds.
Its shape is sufficiently shown in the cut. The height of the mound is
sixty-five feet. We call especial attention to the series of terraces
leading up the south side of the mound. Graded ways afford means of
access from one terrace to the other. A pathway is also seen on the
eastern side.

To this group of works an interest attaches similar to that of the group
of works mentioned in Louisiana. We are not certain but that we catch
a glimpse of it while it was yet an inhabited Indian town. This is
contained in the brief accounts we have of the wanderings of the
unfortunate De Soto and his command. One of the chroniclers of this
expedition La Vega, describes one of the towns where the weary Spaniards
rested, and which we are sure was somewhere in Northern Georgia, in such
terms, mentioning the graded way leading to the top, that Prof. Thomas,
who has spent some time in this investigation, thinks his description
can apply only to the mound under consideration.<40> Whether this
conclusion will be allowed to stand, remains to be seen. But, if true,
then the darkness which rests upon this aboriginal structure lifts for
a moment and we see around it a populous Indian town, able to send five
hundred warriors