The question then is,
how long at the same rate must it have taken the 200 yards between the
two mounds to form. This brings us then to a point say 300 years
before the time of beginning of the small mound. We thus arrive at
about 800 years ago as the time when the grand mound was begun. It
will thus be seen that we have reached back to the eleventh century,
the time previously deduced from historic date for the arrival of the
Toltecans on the Rainy River.
CONCLUSION.
Our investigation has now come to an end. I have led you to examine
the few fragments of a civilization which it would be absurd to
declare to have been of the very highest type, but yet of a character
much above that of the wandering tribes, which, with their well-known
thirst for blood, destroyed the very arts and useful habits which
might have bettered their condition. The whirlwind of barbarian fury
is ever one which fills peaceful nations with terror. We may remember
how near in the "Agony of Canada," the French power was to being
swept out of existence by the fierce fury of the Iroquois--up to that
time always victorious. We may remember how civilization in Minnesota
was thrown back by the Sioux massacre of 1861. It is only now by
persistent and unwearied efforts that we can hope to conquer the
Indians by the arts of peace, and by inducing him to take the hoe in
place of the tomahawk, to meet nature's obstacles.
Pages:
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42