In some localities, however, their longcontinued use must have worn their surface deeply into the ground, and some such well-used paths have left traces in otherwise unchanged regions, and have been recognized by the recent explorer. It is not by a wholly speculative process, but rather by deduction, that the course of some unrecorded Indian trails may be traced in the windings of ancient highways and their modern successors. The known position of native residences, and the assurance of the existence of some line of connection between them on the most natural and easy grade, will be found usually to

AND MONOGRAPHS

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION 29

peared from sight and human memory, the humble but indestructible debris of shell and sherd and spearhead have re-opened the book of history, and recorded in no uncertain terms the place of one-time aboriginal habitation. And in the trodden paths that once united these recorded, recovered, or other unknown sites, the forerunners of our modern means of communication are found, a practicaland permanent result of the life and the arts of the wild men. A study of the topography of known Indian paths affords very clear indication of the reasons governing the selection of their route. Where the land lay reasonably level, the course was fairly direct, swerving only around obstacles such as rocky projections, and probably diverging to avoid heavy growths and fallen timber. The main objective being some other settlement or some neighboring native haunt, the route was directed toward the easiest crossing of streams, either at a wading place or some shallow point in a watercourse where