nce at the map will show that the
portion of Missouri around New Madrid, and to the south of it, is dotted
with swampy lakes and sluggish bayous. The evidence is to the effect
that the ancient inhabitants connected these bayous and lakes with
artificial canals, so as to form quite an extended system of inland
water-ways. Right east of the town of Gayoso, we are told that a canal
had been dug that now connects the Mississippi with a lake called Big
Lake. A bayou running into this lake was joined by a canal with Cushion
Lake.

From this last lake, by means of bayous and lakes, a clear course could
be pursued for some miles north, where finally another canal was cut
to join with the Mississippi a few miles below New Madrid. The entire
length of this water way was some seventy miles, but we are not told
how much of it was artificial, neither are the dimensions given. Prof.
Swallow speaks of a canal "fifty feet wide, and twelve feet, deep."
Whether this was one of this series or not, we do not know.<84> This is
indeed a singular piece of work. It would be more satisfactory if we had
more definite information in regard to the same.

With our present knowledge of the state of society among the Mound
Builders, as made evident by the remains of their implements and
ornaments, we are not justified in believing this part of a system
of internal navigation. We have already seen that further south they
sometimes surrounded their village sites with a wide and deep moat or
ditch, as was observed around the inclosure containing the great mound
on the Etowah. We are inclined to believe that a more careful survey
would greatly modify the accounts we have of these canals, if it did
not, in fact, show that they were the works of nature. According to a
writer in the _American Antiquarian,_<85> the whole lower part of the
Mississippi Valley was abundantly supplied with canals, irrigating
ditches, and evidences of a high intelligence. He speaks of observing
the presence of an extensive canal a little north of the section we have
described. He asserts they were dug to convey the surplus waters of the
Mississippi in times of flood to the White and St. Francis Rivers, thus
preventing disastrous overflows. It is needless to caution the reader
against such conclusions. Our information in regard to those canals is
far too limited to support the views advanced.

This finishes our examination of the works of the Mound Builders. Except
in the case