OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 61
of workmanship and deriving their materials from the same sources, existed at the same period over the intervening country, from the Ohio to the haunts of the manitus on the Southern coast, and maintained a constant intercourse ; or else there was, at some time, a migration from the South, bringing with it these characteristic remains of another region. We cannot conceive that these sculptures alone are fanciful creations, bearing only an accidental resemblance to the manitus, while the others accompanying them are faithful representations of objects generally easily recognizable.
It should be remarked, that the mound-builders seem to have been inveterate smokers, and that in the construction and ornament of their pipes they displayed their utmost skill. The general form of the mound pipe, which may be regarded as the primitive form of the implement, is well ex- hibited in the accompanying sketch.
It will be observed that this form differs widely from that adopted by the existing tribes of Indians. The pipes of the mounds are always carved from a single piece, and consist of a flat, curved base of variable length and width, the bowl rising from the convex side. From one of the ends, communicating with the bowl, is drilled a small hole answering the purposes of a tube; the corresponding oppo- site division being left for the manifest purpose of holding the implement to the mouth. The specimen above repre- sented is exquisitely carved from a beautiful variety of
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