_in Kentucky and a remarkable Mummy, or dried Indian woman found in
it_.
"I received information, that an infant, of nine or twelve months
old, was discovered in a saltpetre Cave in Warren county, about four
miles from the Mammoth Cave, in a perfect state of preservation. I
hastened to the place; but, to my mortification, found that, upon
its being exposed to the atmosphere, it had fallen into dust, and
that its remains, except the skull, with all its clothing, had been
thrown into the furnace. I regretted this much, and promised the
labourers to reward them, if they would preserve the next subject
for me. About a month afterwards, the present one was discovered,
and information given to our agent at the Mammoth Cave, who sent
immediately for it, and brought and placed it there, where it
remained for twelve months. It appeared to be the exsiccated body of
a female. The account which I received of its discovery, was simply
this. It was found at the depth of about ten feet from the surface
of the Cave, bedded in clay, strongly impregnated with nitre, placed
in a sitting posture, incased in broad stones, standing on their
edges, with a flat stone covering the whole. It was enveloped in
coarse clothes, (a specimen of which accompanied it) the whole
wrapped in deer skins, the hair of which was shaved off in the
manner in which the Indians prepare them for market. Enclosed in the
stone coffin, were the working utensils, beads, feathers, and other
ornaments of dress, which belonged to her. The body was in a state
of much higher perfection, when first discovered, and continued so,
as long as it remained in the Mammoth Cave, than it is at present,
except the depredations committed on its arms and thighs by the
rats, many of which inhabit the Cave. After it was brought to
Lexington, and become the subject of great curiosity, being much
exposed to the atmosphere, it gradually began to decay, its muscles
to contract, and the teeth to drop out, and much of its hair was
plucked from its head by wanton visitants. As to the manner of its
being embalmed, or whether the nitrous earth and atmosphere had a
tendency to preserve it, must be left to the speculations of the
learned.
The Cave in which the Mummy was found, is not of great extent, not
being more than three quarters of a mile in length; its surface,
covered with loose limestone, from four to six feet deep, before you
enter the clay impregnated with nitre. It is of easy access, being
above twenty feet wide, and six feet high, at the mouth or entrance.
It is enlarged to about fifty feet wide, and ten feet high, almost
as soon as you enter it. This place had evident marks of having
once been the residence of the aborigines of the country, from the
quantity of ashes, and the remains of fuel, and torches made of the
reed, &c. which were found in it."