to them. It must of necessity occur in a work of this nature that
the review should be very brief, yet we have touched on the different
classes of their works. But before leaving this part of our field we
must mention some anomalous works, and refer to others which, if they
can be relied on as works of the same people, certainly imply a great
advance on their part.

Our next cut is named by Mr. Pidgeon the "Sacrificial Pentagon." Writing
in 1850, he states, "This remarkable group... has probably elicited more
numerous conjectures as to its original use than any other earth-work
yet discovered in the valley of the Mississippi.... It is situated on
the west highlands of the Kickapoo River, in Wisconsin."<76> Mr. Pidgeon
claims to have discovered two of these pentagons. We are not aware that
any one else has verified these discoveries, and it is difficult to
decide what value to give to his writings. He claims to have made
extensive researches around the head-waters of the Mississippi as
early as 1840, and there to have met an aged Indian--the last of his
tribe--who gave him many traditions as to the mounds in that locality.
Most of our scholars think his writings of no account, whatever, and yet
Mr. Conant says, "He seems to have been a thoroughly conscientious and
careful observer, faithfully noting what he saw and beard."<77>

Illustration of Sacrificial Pentagon.-----------------

We will briefly describe a few of the earth-works he mentions, notice
their singular form, and give an outline of the traditions in regard to
them, leaving the reader to draw his own conclusions. Of this work the
outer circle is said to have been twelve hundred feet in circumference,
the walls being from three to five feet in height; width on the ground
from twelve to sixteen feet. The walls of the pentagon were from four
to six feet high. The inner circle was of very slight elevation. The
central mound was thirty-six feet in diameter. This singular arrangement
of circle, pentagon, and mounds, is traditionally represented to have
been a sacred national altar--the most holy one known to tradition--and
no foot, save that of a priest, might pass within the sacred walls of
the pentagon after its completion. The sacrifice offered on this altar
was that of human life. Twice each year the offering was made.<78>

The work represented in the figure below is stated to have been in the
near neighborhood of the former, and to have been intimately