and race of this singular exsiccation.

First, then, I am satisfied that it does not belong to that class of
white men of which we are members.

2dly. Nor do I believe that it ought to be referred to the bands of
Spanish adventurers, who, between the years 1500 and 1600, rambled
up the Mississippi, and along its tributary streams. But on this
head I should like to know the opinion of my learned and sagacious
friend, Noah Webster.

3dly. I am equally obliged to reject the opinion that it belonged to
any of the tribes of aborigines, now or lately inhabiting Kentucky.

4thly. The mantle of the feathered work, and the mantle of twisted
threads, so nearly resemble the fabricks of the indigines of Wakash
and the Pacifick Islands, that I refer this individual to that era
of time, and that generation of men, which preceded the Indians of
the Green River, and of the place where these relicks were found.
This conclusion is strengthened by the consideration that such
manufactures are not prepared by the actual and resident red men of
the present day. If the Abbe Clavigero had had this case before him,
he would have thought of the people who constructed those ancient
forts and mounds, whose exact history no man living can give. But I
forbear to enlarge; my intention being merely to manifest my respect
to the society for having enrolled me among its members, and to
invite the attention of its Antiquarians to further inquiry on a
subject of such curiousity.

With respect, I remain yours,

SAMUEL L. MITCHILL.

It would appear, from recent researches on the Northwest coast, that the
natives of that region embalmed their dead with much care, as may be
seen from the work recently published by W. H. Dall,[35] the description
of the mummies being as follows:

We found the dead disposed of in various ways; first, by interment
in their compartments of the communal dwelling, as already
described; second, by being laid on a rude platform of drift-wood or
stones in some convenient rock shelter. These lay on straw and moss,
covered by matting, and rarely have either implements, weapons, or
carvings associated with them. We found only three or four specimens
in all in these places, of which we examined a great number. This
was apparently the more ancient form of disposing of the dead, and
one which more recently was still pursued in the case of poor or
unpopular ind