me wanders
along the embankment and ascends the mounds, he can not fail to
experience sensations akin to those of the traveler when he comes upon
the ruins of some Old World city. We wish that for a brief space of time
the curtain of the past would up-roll, and let us view these works while
yet their builders flourished here.

Illustration of Gateway of Octagon.--------------

Connected with the Octagon by parallel walls three hundred feet long
and placed sixty feet apart, is the smaller circle, "F." This is a true
circle, and is upwards of half a mile in circumference. A portion of
it lying in the woods, still retains its primitive form, but the larger
part is now under cultivation. There is no difficulty, however, in
tracing its entire length. The most interesting feature in connection
with this part of the work is immediately opposite the point of entrance
from the octagon, and is represented in our next cut. At this point
it seems as if the builders had started to make parallel walls, but
afterwards changed their design and threw across the opening a large
mound. From this mound a view of the entire embankment could be
obtained. It is called the Observatory Mound. It has been so often dug
into that it is now really in ruins, but is still too steep to be plowed
over.

Illustration of Observatory Mound, Newark Works.--------

It is scarcely necessary to describe the works further, except to state
that three lines of parallel embankments lead away from the octagon.
Those extending south have been traced for upwards of two miles, and are
gradually lost in the plain. It was the opinion of Mr. Atwater, one of
the earliest investigators, that these lines connected with other works
thirty miles away, in the vicinity of Lancaster.<68> Small circles
are numerous in connection with these works. It has been suggested by
several that they mark the sites of circular dwellings. The larger ones,
indicated by the letter "G," are more pretentious. They have the ditch
and embankment, which we have already described. Many interesting
coincidents in dimensions will be perceived between portions of this
work and those described in the Scioto valley.<69>

Although we have devoted considerable space to this branch of the
Mound Builders' work, we must still find space to describe the works at
Marietta, which possessed some singular features. This cut gives us a
correct plan of the works as they were when in 1788 the first settl