Illinois history stories, for use in elementary schools . yed, most of themin river valleys not far removed from the streams. Thisone fact suggests a possible explanation of their origin,—they may have been devised for the purpose of pro-tecting the people from the great overflows of the rivers,which were probably much greater than now. We haveseen one of these mounds some twelve miles or morefrom the usual channel of the Mississippi river in Mis-souri, built upon with corn cribs, barns, sheds anddwelling-house, the only spot above water for a distanceof five miles in any direction. The farmer
Illinois history stories, for use in elementary schools . yed, most of themin river valleys not far removed from the streams. Thisone fact suggests a possible explanation of their origin,—they may have been devised for the purpose of pro-tecting the people from the great overflows of the rivers,which were probably much greater than now. We haveseen one of these mounds some twelve miles or morefrom the usual channel of the Mississippi river in Mis-souri, built upon with corn cribs, barns, sheds anddwelling-house, the only spot above water for a distanceof five miles in any direction. The farmer had takenadvantage of one of the old Indian mounds for thesame purpose for which the Indians had erected it,—tokeep himself above the Mississippi overflow in the monthof February. Many of these mounds have been foundto contain skeletons, pottery and various other things, 26 THE EARLY INHABITANTS and from the remains found scattered about, a sort ofculture, religious and industrial, had been supposed anddefended. Nothing, however, has been found and. Distribution of Land in North America Among the Three Classes of Indian Tribes. nothing proven that might not apply to the Indiantribes as they were in the olden times. A glance at a map will help us to understand that 27 ILLINOIS HISTORY STORIES at the time of the earliest white occupation of thecountry, North America was peopled by three greatclasses or grades of Indians. To the extreme northand west, beyond the Rocky mountains, were the savagenations. These lived wholly on the results of the chaseand the streams, with what fruits and roots they couldgather. They made no pretense at cultivating theground, nor did they have any of the conveniences oflife. To the east of the Rocky mountains, extending tothe Atlantic and to the Gulf of Mexico, were the bar-barous tribes. These depended not alone upon thehunt and the streams, but made some rude attemptsat cultivation. They grew fields of corn and beansand tobacco. They gathered t
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