vanced. It was also favored by Sir William Jones, one of the most learned men of the eighteenth century. He passed many years in India, and studied the history of most ancient nations, with peculiar zeal and assiduity. He believed the first inhabitants of America emigrated from the northeast of Asia, and at a very remote period 'probably,' he says, 'within eight hundred years after the deluge." He founded his opinion upon their complexion, customs and physical character; but principally on the consideration, that if they had left Asia at a much later period, they would have brought with them more knowledge and more of the arts of civilized life; and that the event would have been known through Asia and in Europe.

The same opinion was expressed by the learned Hornius, or Horn, in his remarks on the theory of Hugo Grotius. He supposed that the original inhabitants of America were descended from the Cathayan Tartars, or Huns; and that they came to this continent and made settlements, at a very early age of the world: But he does not undertake to fix the particular period. He excludes the Africans, and the Scandinavians or Norwegians; but thinks it not impossible, that the Malays, at an early period, after traversing the Pacific ocean, might have effected a settlement in South America; and, consequently, that a part of the population of that country descended from them.

We ought, perhaps, to have noticed the conjecture of some writers, who have suggested, that the Japanese were the first settlers of this continent. This opinion may be more plausible than that which accounts for the original occupancy, by Africans, Phenicians or Egyptians. But there is nothing in any existing tradition, nor is there any other evidence to support the hypothesis. Besides, if Japan furnished inhabitants for America originally, it would have been by the aid of navigation, a knowledge of which would have been retained by the Americans in ages subsequent to the first settlement. They would, probably, have kept up an intercourse with the new colony. Their migration, also, we may reasonably suppose, would have been to a latitude not more northern, than the place from which they came; whereas nothing is more certain, than that many of the first people of America, (if not all of them) came to it in a high northern latitude, at or near Behring's Straits. The migration of these Tartar tribes or hordes might, indeed, have been at different times, with short intervals, and the companies not very numerous. The inducement might have been to escape from powerful hostile tribes in Asia; or we may impute their removal to a wandering disposition, which lead men to seek out new places of settlement or hunting.

It is true, that Clavigero, the learned historian of Mexico, and M. Malte Brun, the indefatigable and scientific geographer of the pre

sent century, rather favor the opinion, that South America was first occupied by some Malays or Chinese; yet they admit, that it is most probable North America was originally settled by an Asiatic race, who came to this continent at a very remote period, and in a high northern latitude. A few writers also, have supposed, that South America was early settled chiefly by Africans. If the aborigines of South America were very like, either the Africans, or the Chinese, in physical character, color, or customs, there would be some plausibility in these theories. But there were no negroes in America, when first visited by the Spaniards; and there is nothing yet detected in the traditions or customs of the Peruvians (as before observed) to render it probable even that they sprung from the Chinese or Malays. M. Brun expressly acknowledges, that the people of South America and those of the Islands in the Pacific ocean are dissimilar in their language and their physiological attributes. It seems to us, after much consideration of the subject, that a passage from Asia to America, at Behring's Straits, is the only one, which a rude and wandering people, as the Tartar and Mongol tribes were in the eighth or tenth century from the deluge, with little knowledge of navigation, could reasonably be supposed to make. No objections have ever been offered, to render it improbable that this was the channel of the emigrations from the old to the new continent; or that these were made at a very remote period, as above suggested: and as to resemblances, it is conceded by all writers on the subject, that far greater likenesses are to be found between the inhabitants of this continent and the ancient, wandering, illiterate tribes in the northeast of Asia, than between the American Indians, and any other nation.

It is well known, that the ancient Huns and Tartars were a wandering people. It is a fact, also, that in very early periods, as well as in later times, there were wars and revolutions, in the central and northern parts of Asia. This was the case, with the inhabitants of those regions, in the fourth and fifth century from the deluge. Ambition or wants produced invasions, and these produced migrations to distant places. Thus, some families and tribes removed west, some south, and some east, from the central parts of Asia, the early residence of the fathers of our species. Within four hundred years from the deluge, all Asia was probably settled, (except the extreme northern part) even as far as the shores of the Pacific ocean, and the Islands contiguous to the coasts. There is nothing to render it. improbable, that soon after settling on or near the shores of the Pacific, even with little knowledge of navigation, some adventurous and wandering hordes would pass to the Islands in the vicinity, and thus proceed to the American coast; especially, as the arm of the sea is very narrow, at the place before mentioned, and that at which

they most probably passed, and several Islands intervene to facilitate the passage. They might, indeed, have made the passage a little south of Behring's straits, by the Aleutian Islands. The individuals who emigrated belonged to a roving, and partially civilized tribe, desirous of finding new places of abode, where they might have more extensive possessions, as well as be safe from the robberies and depredations of a more powerful people.

This was the opinion and theory of some learned men more than a century ago, respecting the first and early settlement of the American continent. And since it has been ascertained, that the distance between Asia and America at Behring's straits, is not many leagues, this hypothesis has had numerous advocates.*

Now, if this passage to America, by a few persons even, was as early as above suggested, within 800 or 900 years after the flood, we may repeat, that there has been ample time for the settlement and occupancy of this whole continent by their descendants, according to the ratio of increase and multiplication of the human race, in other parts of the earth.

After passing over to America, these people would naturally as they increased, extend their settlements, both on the coasts and into the interior of the country. It is not probable, however, that they travelled north, to colder regions; but east, southeast, and especially south, to a milder climate and country. As they became numerous, and found fertile tracts of land, they would build towns or villages, establish sites of permanent abode, and cultivate the ground. Thus, from mere wandering tribes, they sometimes became more stationary and somewhat civilized. When the population of any place was numerous, their wants would increase, and some arts of social life, probably were invented and introduced among them. Such, according to the most ancient histories, was the progress of society in the old world, in early times. The traditions and hieroglyphic paintings of the Mexicans, so far as the latter have been explained, shew that the ancestors of the Aztecs or Mexicans, had proceeded in this manner. Several settlements were made, and compact towns built, by the ancestors of this people, between the valley of Anahuac and Nootka sound, in the north. From these towns or settlements in the north, their children and the more enterprizing of the ancient race of the Toltecs and Aztecs, occasionally sallied forth in search of other regions, where they could have greater possessions, or a more fertile soil, or more convenient places for hunting: and in 2800,

It is hardly necessary to mention an ancient tradition, that formerly the two continents were united at this place; but were severed by an earthquake. It may be better founded, indeed, than that of the sinking of land between Africa and South America, which some supposed were once contiguous. But the passage at Behring's Straits is short, and there is no difficulty in believing it might be crossed in small boats.

or 3000 years, (including fourteen or fifteen centuries before, and the same number after the Christian era) the whole continent of America became filled with inhabitants. From their first settlements, they probably soon removed east, into the interior of the country, to the north of the great lakes, to Hudson's bay and to Canada; southeast, along the southern shores of the lakes, to the Missouri, Mississippi and Ohio rivers; thence to Florida, the Carolinas, to the Potomac, Susquehanna, Delaware, Hudson, Connecticut rivers, and to the Atlantic coasts, within the present territory of New England.

If we should suppose, that any people who came to America in a remote age were accustomed to navigate the ocean, there would be no difficulty in admitting, that they passed over from Asia in a more southern latitude, even from Japan or some part of China. In the opinion of some writers, as we have noticed, this is necessary to account for the settlement of Chili and Peru. But this hypothesis supposes a greater knowledge of navigation than can be justly admitted, for the reasons before stated. It is far more reasonable to suppose, that the Toltecs, or their predecessors in Anahuac, who possessed the country in a very remote period, migrated to Chili and Peru, and settled the whole territory between. The ruins of ancient buildings, the temples, the traditions, customs and dress of the latter are similar to the former nation, or people; and strongly indicate a common origin, if not the descent of one from the other.

The probability, then, is far greater in favor of the hypothesis, which accounts for the early settlement and population of the American continent, by referring solely to a passage at Behring's straits, . many centuries before our era, and as early, perhaps, as the exode of the Jews from Egypt. The principal objection to this theory, (for there is no evidence furnished, by physical character, language, or customs, of the descent of the Americans from any particular nation in Europe, Africa, or from the Chinese) is, that the whole continent would not have been filled with inhabitants, if we were to suppose they all sprang from a few wandering Asiatics. But we know not how numerous was the company or horde, which came early to America. There might have been fifty only; and there might have been two or three hundred. But 3000 or 2800 years, the period from the ninth or tenth century after the deluge, to the beginning of the sixteenth century of our era, would be sufficient for the settlement of the whole continent, as it was in 1500, when first visited by the Spaniards.

It may now be proper to notice the opinions of those who contend for a theory altogether different from that here advanced, and whose arguments are entirely unlike those used by the writers before mentioned; and who suppose, that a distinct race, or races of people are found in America, whose origin must necessarily be traced to

different nations of the globe, if they are not, indeed, of a species wholly different from those of any other people on the earth. These arguments are founded in their various forms and features, and in their difference of language: for neither their color nor their traditions, nor their arts of life are such as to render very probable the opinion of originally distinct races of mankind. It is granted, however, even by those writers who have advanced or advocated this hypothesis, that difference of climate, long and remote separation, variety of occupation, of diet, and of social condition, will account for considerable shades of difference, in color, and for diversity in the arts of life; since these must depend, in a great measure, upon the relative numbers, the occupations, compactness, and fixed location of mankind. As to the traditions of the several nations and tribes of American Indians, they were substantially, the same, with reference to the deluge, the early dispersion and consequent migrations from a distant country to the west and northwest, and to the removals of their ancestors from their first settlements on this continent, to the places they themselves occupied.

What, then, are the facts and arguments derived from the physiology of man, which militate with the hypothesis we have advanced? It is pretended, by some philosophers, that there are several distinct races of men, even in the old world; and the people of America form another race entirely different from any of those. Blumenbach supposes there are five distinct races or families of men, whose physiological characters are essentially different; Malte Brun pretends there are three distinct races in Africa only; and a fanciful modern writer asserts that there are sixteen distinct races of people on the globe. But the opinion of most learned men is, that the varieties, which exist, in the physical character of different nations, have been discovered only in later times, after mankind had been separated for many generations and centuries; and their condition diversified, by climate, diet, occupation, and modes of living, whether in large societies, or in a more isolated and wandering manner. M. Brun himself seems to be of this opinion. Their theory, then, does not, in reality, militate with the hypothesis, which supposes one primitive race or family as the origin of all. In entering upon this part of the discussion, it becomes us perhaps to confess, that the limited knowledge we possess of physiological facts relating to man will not justify a very decided and positive opinion on the subject. Much attention, however, has been given to the question; so that we feel somewhat confident of the correctness of the remarks here submitted. We observe, then, in the first place, that great doubt is entertained as to the propriety of resting any hypothesis, as to distinct races of mankind, or an essential difference between the people of America and all other nations, on such a foundation. Nothing satisfactory