nce
with Old World mythologies. Nature worship is one of the earliest forms
of worship. The prominent features of a landscape would be regarded as
objects of worship. Thus, for example, the island of Mackinac resembles
in its outline the shape of a turtle; so the island was regarded as
sacred to the turtle, and offerings were made to it. A bluff on the same
island at a distance resembles a rabbit; accordingly, it was called by
that name, and offerings were made to it. It is quite natural that the
effigy-mound builders should seek to perpetuate by effigy some of these
early traditions.

In the case of the Big Serpent mound this point is worth considering.
The ridge on which it stands is not only in the midst of a wild, rough
region, but is so situated that it commands a wide extent of country. In
shape this tongue of land is also peculiar. It is a narrow, projecting
headland, and would easily suggest the idea of a serpent or a lizard.
"This, with the inaccessibility of the spot, would produce a peculiar
feeling of awe, as if it were a great Manitou which resided there; and
so a sentiment of wonder and worship would gather around the locality.
This would naturally give rise to a tradition, or would lead the people
to revive some familiar tradition and localize it."<56> The final step
would be to make an effigy.

It seems to us very hazardous to draw any conclusions as to the
religious beliefs of the Mound Builders from this effigy, or
combinations of effigies. It also seems to us reasonable to suppose
that but one figure was intended to be represented. A very slight
prolongation of the serpent's jaws and the limbs of the frog would
connect them, in which case we would have some amphibious creature with
an unduly extended tail, or perhaps a lizard. We must remember that the
whole figure has been plowed over once or twice, so that we are not sure
of the original outlines. We can not tell why they should represent a
portion of the body as hollow, but neither can we tell why the head of
the supposed serpent should be represented as hollow. We do not find any
important earth-works near here. The hill on which it is placed commands
a very extensive view of the surrounding country. Within the oval a pile
of stones showed evidence of a long-continued fire, which would indicate
that this was also a signal-mound. Prof. Putnam thinks it probable that
there was a burial place between it and the large conical mound not far
away.<57>