contain
several hundred men." He represents the view from the top of the mound
to be a very extensive and beautiful one. From this elevation he
counted forty-five mounds or pyramids, besides a great number of
small artificial elevations. This group was arranged in the form of a
semicircle, about a mile in extent, the open space being on the river.

Illustration of Cahokia Mound.--------------------

Three miles above occurs the group in which is found the famous big
mound.<32> This cut gives us a good idea of the mound as it was in its
perfect state. All accounts given of this mound vary. From a cut of the
model, as prepared by Dr. Patrick, the area of the base is a trifle
over fifteen acres.<33> The ascent was probably on the south side of
the mound, where the little projection is seen. The first platform is
reached at the height of about fifty feet. This platform has an area of
not far from two and four-fifth acres. Large enough for quite a number
of houses, if such was the purpose for which this mound was erected. The
second platform is reached at about the height of seventy-five feet,
and contains about one and three-fourth acres. The third platform is
elevated ninety-six or ninety-seven feet, while the last one is not far
from one hundred feet above the plain. The area of the last two is about
three-fourths of an acre each. The areas of all the platforms are not
far from six acres. We require to dwell on these facts a moment before
we realize what a stupendous piece of work this is. The base is larger
than that of the Great Pyramid,<34> and we must not lose sight of the
fact that the earth for its construction was scraped up and brought
thither without the aid of metallic tools or beasts of burden, and yet
the earth was obtained somewhere and piled up over an area of fifteen
acres in one place to a height of one hundred feet, and even the lowest
platform is fifty feet above the plain. Some have suggested that it
might be partly a natural elevation. There seems to be, however, no good
reason for such suggestions.

What motive induced the people to expend so much labor on this mound? It
is not probable that this was a burial mound, though it may ultimately
prove to be so. The most probable supposition is that the mound was
erected so as to secure an elevated site, perhaps for purpose of
defense, as on these platforms there was abundant room for a large
village, and an elevation or height has always been an imp