greeted the eyes of De Soto, when he first made his appearance among the aborigines in the Valley of the Mississippi. The quantities found in the temples and villages, as related by Spanish and Portuguese historians, almost exceeds belief.

Among the sepulchral graves of the aborigines, the plow-share turns up human relics, and also brings to light large quantities of pearls; and the broken vases at the same time disclose what were their depositories. The pearls found are rarely perfect; alas! time and exposure to the damps of the earth have rendered them very fragile, and hence they are easily peeled into lamina, sometimes, however, reaching a kernel by this process, which is sound and brilliant. We have a number in our possession, from which we scaled off the lamina, till they became perfect. Finding them as we have, carefully deposited in vases and mortars with the dead, we must conclude that they were among the things of value, which were exchanged or hoarded by the aborigines, as circumstances or choice dictated.

TERRA-COTTA. This money is formed from clay and tempered with bone, and also ferruginous matter. Some of its varieties are of a beautiful red color, which, upon analysis, were found to be composed of, viz.: silex, 51, aluminum, 19, lime, 9, and iron, 21 parts.

The devices upon these pieces are numerous, generally on one side, but occasionally upon both. They consist of the heart, the extended hand, leg, birds, frogs, snakes, and many curious figures formed of lines, dots, and circles.

The extended hand, as we have illustrated it from the originals, frequently appears, according to Stephens, upon the bricks and stones found in Central America, and upon the dressed skins forming the robes of the present Indians, thus establishing an affinity of ideas between the aborigines of the Isthmus, and those of the Valley of the Mississippi.

It is not improbable that it was a symbol referring to a Supreme power, and designed to keep in constant remembrance Deity, to which the aborigines, equally with the Christians of more enlightened times, were disposed to defer; and to whom their rude, but natural, devotion was undoubtedly sincere, if not profound. See Plate III, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13.

It is a peculiarity also, that the extended hand was an emblem upon quadrans, a coin, among the ancient Romans, which was the fourth of an as or as; the value of which was estimated with reference to the denarius, which contained or was equal to ten asses; and the as, four quadrans. Thus, as the denarius, in the time of our Saviour, was equal to about seventeen cents of our money, the as was equal to three farthings, English, and the quadran being the fourth of that sum, was a little less in value than

a half cent. The two mites, which the widow threw into the Temple treasury, were of the value of a quadran.

Though, in both the Roman and aboriginal coins, the idea was undoubtedly distinct and original — there having been no communication between the Old and the New World-the extended hand, as an emblem, might have been designed to suggest openheartedness, liberality, a disregard of money, or grasping selfishness. It might have been dictated as an emblem of confidence or affection; or, as we have imagined, in the case of the aborigines, a deference to Deity, in connection with which, by the followers of the Saviour, the hand was symbolized as the "outstretched hand," "mighty to save," &c., or indicative of the power which invites love and confidence, and promises protection. Hence, whether of heathen or Christian application, it has much appropriateness, and in such connection, is not devoid of ideal beauty.

STONE MONEY.-These specimens occur in great quantities in the aboriginal mounds. They are composed of jasper, quartz, agate, chalcedony, and, occasionally, cornelian. The more common specimens found are wrought from sand-stone and slate. Size of this kind of money, from eight inches in diameter down to half an inch; in many instances, very highly polished, and occasionally figured over with hieroglyphics and other devices. See Plate II, Figures 2 and 13. Plate IV, Figures 3, 4, 5, and 16.

In opening the Grave Creek Mound, previously referred to, a small thin and flat piece of sand-stone was found. See fac-simile for form, size, and the hieroglyphic inscription, Plate II, Figure 15.

Schoolcraft says: "The characters are in the ancient rock alphabet of sixteen right and acute angled single strokes, used by the Pelasgi and other Mediterranean nations, and which is the parent of the modern Punic as well as the Bardic." See fac-similes of stone hatchets, previously referred to, Plate II, Figures 8 and 10. Darts of chalcedony and jasper, Plate II, Figures 4, 5, 11, and 12.

THE LILY ENCRINITE. This fossil, belonging to the family Crinoidea, is found in great numbers in the rocks of the Silurian system, upwards, and occurs plentifully in many of the aboriginal mounds.

This animal petrifaction is formed of long jointed stems, composed of calcareous divisions or plates closely fitting each other. A single fossil of this species contains the enormous number of one hundred and fifty thousand pieces; they are generally found separated, and it is these divisions of the stems which are denominated entrochites and screw-stones; and, in the north of England, fairy-stones and St. Cuthbert's beads.

In this wonderful result of nature, the aborigine had a coin or currency properly fashioned and beautifully ornamented, without the labor of design or workmanship,