A New Hochelagan Burying-ground Discovered at Westmount on the Western Spur of Mount Royal, Montrea | Page 2

have been in all cases with knees bent up. No objects
seem to have been noticed in any of the excavations then made, though
some may have been overlooked by the workmen, particularly as the
soil of the locality is full of pieces of limestone and small boulders,
closely resembling arrow heads, hammers and celts. Several bones
which are not human have however been since found with these three
skeletons, one possibly of a dog, another of a squirrel. They may be
those of the funeral feast Sir William Dawson mentions in his work
"Fossil Men," as usually to be looked for over the Hochelagan graves.
Mr. Beauchamp, the New-York authority, writes concerning the
Mohawks; "Burial customs varied greatly among the same people, but
usually the knees are drawn up. The face might be turned either way in
contiguous graves. I have seen many opened with no articles in them."
By the kindness of Dr. Wyatt Johnston, Pathologist to the Provincial
Board of Health, the three skeletons have been preserved and are now
in the Chateau de Ramezay Historical Museum where they will
doubtless be regarded with interest by scholars. The skulls have been
fully identified as of the Indian type, and found to be those of two
powerful males in the prime of life and one young woman. The skull in

possession of Mr. Earl is doubtless of the same race. Some large stones
were found placed above the bodies, and also a number of naturally flat
stones which appear to have been used as scoops to excavate. The
plateau where the remains were found is about half way up the side of
the "Mountain" or hill, as it more properly is, the total height being
only about 700 feet. The plateau slopes somewhat and looks towards
the south-east, and being protected by the hill behind it from prevailing
winds, and having a good light soil, constitutes a very favorable
situation for the growth of the Indian crops of corn and beans. The
Mountain being an isolated rise in the great plain of the St. Lawrence,
the plateau was also most favorably placed for look-out and defence. A
hundred yards or so to the west is a fine perennial spring, and a short
distance further is another which has always been known as "the old
Indian Well," having been a resort of Indians at a later period. Only a
few spots on the plateau have so far been excavated; but with
approaching improvements I have no doubt that other graves will soon
be found. The ground to the west, in the neighborhood of the two
perennial springs, has in particular, never been much disturbed. If
therefore, as on the site of the old Hochelaga, this burying-ground is on
the out skirts of a town site, relics of a much more interesting character
may be looked for in the undisturbed neighborhood just referred to, the
Raynes and Murray farms, and those on, the southern slope of the
Mountain.
Should a town-site be fortunately discovered I have no doubt that
progressive Westmount will see to proper care being taken in the matter.
Such a town would likely be older than Hochelaga and thus afford a
fresh step in tracing the record of this mysterious people. Such towns
were frequently moved, when the soil or supply of wood gave out, or
disease or enemies made removal imperative. As to the remains already
unearthed being prehistoric, there can be no doubt. The Island was
deserted after the destruction of Hochelaga by the Hurons about 1560.
The next Indian inhabitants were Catholic converts and therefore were
buried at full length in a consecrated Christian ground. The village of
the converts was at the Old Towers of the Fort des Messieurs, some
quarter of a mile eastward of the plateau referred to.
In tracing back the history of the land in which these discoveries have
been made, we learn from the terrier or land book of the Seminary of

St. Sulpice, that it was conceded about 1708, and that it has ever since
remained in private hands. Had the site been known as a burial place,
even years previous to that date, it is altogether unlikely that such a
concession would have been made; especially as there was abundance
of unoccupied land in the vicinity. The faint doubt which arose as to
whether the interments were made subsequently to the founding of
Montreal, is therefore eliminated. The authorities of the Seminary, who
conceded the land, state not only that they have no record of a
burying-ground there, but agree with me that the space covered is too
large, to be consecrated ground, as it would be in Christian times, and
they also state that the burials of the mission of the Mountain where the
Montreal Indian converts