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

. INDIAN PATHS

combine in indicating the necessary course of some old-established highroad. It was reasonable and natural for the settlers, as the permanency of their occupancy became established, to open up the trail by which they had made their way to a certain district, and thus to utilize the work of the native in providing an easy route for the widened roadway which was suited to their needs. It is not only assumable, but fairly certain, that the early settlers gradually widened out the trodden path so that companions could travel together, side by side, and that their next act would naturally be to extend the width of the passage to permit of the use of a sled or a wagon. Thus, with a little grading of the highest parts and a corduroy or plank support over wet and boggy places, the foundation was laid for the farm lane. ' The demarcation of such old lanes by the huge bowlders drawn from the cleared lands followed, which laborious process permanently fixed the course of such a roadway. The direction of certain of these old cartways