n one of the Ohio mounds. Copper
axes have lately been found quite frequently in mounds near Davenport,
Iowa, and in most cases before being deposited in the mounds, they
had been wrapped in cloth. Copper ornaments are a more common find.
Bracelets, beads, and ear ornaments are numerous. Our next cut
represents some very fine bracelets found in a mound near Chillicothe,
Ohio, Copper tools and weapons have been found quite frequently on the
surface, but we are not sure in this case whether they are not the work
of recent Indians. The early explorers noticed the presence of copper
ornaments among the Indians. "When Henry Hudson discovered, in 1609, the
magnificent river that bears his name, he noticed among the Indians of
that region pipes and ornaments of copper." The account says: "They had
red copper tobacco pipes, and other things of copper they did wear about
their necks."<88> De Soto also noticed among the Southern Indians axes
of copper. Other accounts could be quoted showing that the Indians were
well acquainted with copper.<89> The fact is, in this matter also, it is
impossible to draw a dividing line between relics of the Mound Building
tribes and the Indians. However, the Mound Builders were certainly
acquainted with copper, but to their minds it was only a singular stone,
one that they could hammer, into a desired shape.

Illustration of Copper Bracelets.-------------------

Where did they obtain their copper? We are all aware that in this
country great supplies of pure copper exist near the southern shore of
Lake Superior, and there is a peculiarity about the copper found there,
that is, the presence of small pieces of silver with the copper. This
is a very singular mixture, and we are not aware of its occurrence
elsewhere. It would trouble the best chemists to explain it. From this
fact we are enabled to identify articles of copper derived from that
source, and to that region we can trace the copper from which are formed
most of the copper implements and ornaments found in this country. It is
also noticeable that the nearer we get to this region the more numerous
are the finds of articles of copper. More are reported from Wisconsin
than the rest of the United States put together.

This leads us to a very interesting subject. In 1848 Mr. S. 0. Knapp,
agent of the Minnesota Mining Company on the northern peninsula of
Michigan, discovered that the modern miners were but following in the
footsteps of some