.MTA2Mw.NzIwOTU

196

Pigmies. - "But in some parts of the western country, there are evidences presented of the astonishing fact, that there had been a race of men here, whose ordinary size did not in general exceed three feet. In 1818, Mr Long?, the proprietor of a farm on the south side of the Merrimac? river, fifteen miles from St Louis, in the state of Missouri, discovered, on the site on which he had fixed his dwelling, a number of graves, the size of which appeared uncommonly small. He made a minute examination, which convinced him they were the remains of human beings much smaller than those of the present day. He seemed warranted in this conclusion, as well from the uniform appearance of the skeleton, the length of which in no case exceeded four feet, as from the teeth, which bore evident marks of those belonging to adult persons. He communicated these facts to a gentleman of the place, who soon afterwards, with two other gentlemen, accompanied by doctors Walker & Grayson, proceeded to the place of interment. They found in a wood adjacent to the house, a great number of graves, all situated in small tumuli or hillocks, raised about three feet above the surface. They examined several?; the first of which, by actual measurement, was discovered to be only twenty-three inches in length. The grave was carefully