ty.

The composition was earth and stones lying in a manner that betrayed some design in the original construction. The plain, and all the artificial objects upon its surface, grew some of the heaviest timber in the western. Taking this for date, the ruins may be deemed as ancient as any in the world.

Our views effected, and on our return from the mounds, through the angular fort, our attention was attracted by a small swell on a part of the ground which might have been nearly the centre of the fort. Some thought it a natural wave of the earth, and of this opinion I should have been, had I not perceived a remarkable singularity. Although more than thirty feet in diameter, it had on it neither shrub, tree, nor any thing but a multitude of pink and purple flowers. We came to an opinion that it was artificial, and as it differed in form and character from the mounds,

we resolved to lay it open, though not before every person surmised its contents and properties. It was cast open to the level of the plain, without rewarding labor or curiosity. Vexed at such il success, I jumped from the bank among the hands, in order to take a spade and encourage them to dig somewhat deeper. At this instant the ground gave way and involved us all in earth and ruin! You may conceive what a cry issued from such an unexpected tomb! But it was soon followed by much mirth and laughter. No person was hurt. Nor was the fall above three feet. I had great difficulty to prevail on any person to resume the labor-and had to explore the place myself, and sound it with a pole, before we could renew our pursuit. At length we removed the earth, and found that a parcel of timbers had given way, which covered the orifice of a square hole

seven feet by four, and four deep-nearly under the centre of the swell or mound. That it was a sepulchre was unanimously agreed, till we found it in vain to look for bones or any substance similar to them in decomposition. At the depth of three feet, however, we struck an object which would neither yield to the spade nor emit any sound; on percevering still further, we found the obstruction, which was uniform through the pit, to proceed from rows of large spherical bodies-at first taken to be stones. Several of them were cast up to the surface: they were exactly alike: perfect globes, nine inches in diameter, and about twenty pounds weight. The superficies of one when cleaned and scraped with knives, appeared like a ball of base metal, so strongly impregnated with the dust of gold, that the baseness of the metal itself was nearly altogether obscured. The clamour was

so great, and the joy so exuberant, that no opinion but one was admitted, and no voice could be heard while the cry of " 'tis gold! 'tis gold!" resounded through the groves. Having determined on this important point, we formed a council respecting the distribution of the treasure, and each individual in the joy of his heart, declared publicly the use he proposed to make of the part allotted to his share. The Englishman concluded that he would return to England, being certain, from experience, that there was no country like it. A German of our party said he would never have quitted the Rhine, had he had money enough to rebuild his barn which was blown down by a high wind, but that he would return to the very spot from whence he came, and prove to his neighbours that he loved his country as well as another when he had the means of doing well. An

Irishman swore damnation the day longer he'd stay in America, but gave no motive for his determination, and my Mestizo appeared to think that were he to purchase some beads, rum, and blankets, and return to his own nation, he might become Sachem and keep the finest Syaws of it. For my part, I saw in the treasure the ample means of visiting other climes, and my imagination traversed South America, Africa, Asia, and the few parts of Europe I had not before explored. Such were our various views. The most remarkable trait they suggest, is, that though in America, and filled with all the dreams that have been related of its felicities and wealth, not one of the party had ever thought of remaining or of making it a perpetual residence!

Reserving but one globe of gold, or at least one ball of mixed gold, we carefully secured the remainder of the