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has been ascertained or written on this subject. physiologists are not agreed among themselves. peculiar theory of his own. It has already been writers suppose five distinct races; and some, sixteen. pretended there were three in America. Such speculations and theories are certainly not entitled to much credit or consideration, unless supported by clear and direct proof. For they militate with the account given by Moses, the Jewish historian, of the general deluge, and of the early occupancy and settlement of the earth after that great calamity. And he has never yet been detected in any erroneous statement, or in substituting fanciful theories for truth. If it be intended, merely, as it seems to be by some writers, that, at a very early and now remote period, within one hundred and fifty or two hundred years of the deluge, the children and descendants of Noah, of the third and fourth generations, separated from one another, in Chaldea, and settled in different and distant parts of the earth; some in Canaan and Palestine, some in Egypt and Ethiopia, and in the western parts of Africa, some in the eastern parts of Europe, and some in the northern and eastern parts of Asia; and, that long separation, difference of climate, of labor, occupation and diet, of more or less exposure to the sun and air, of variety in their social state, some living in towns, others wandering into new and wild countries, exposed to excessive heat and cold, to diseases and want, would produce a variety in the color, stature, form, features, and strength of different nations. If this only be intended by distinct races of men, it will be admitted, as well with regard to the new continent as to the old.

There is, indeed, one fact in the physiology of our species, (difference of shape and stature do not present a very formidable difficulty) which has not been satisfactorily explained, on the supposition of the unity of the human race. This respects the negroes of Africa: But it is not a difficulty to embarrass, particularly, the hypothesis which we have here advanced, as to the entire, original settlement of America by a horde or company of the Tartar race, from the northeast of Asia. On this continent, none of the indigenous inhabitants were like the negroes of Africa; but a strong general likeness is observable among all the Indian nations in America; and they, also, most resemble the Huns, or Cathayan Tartars, who inhabited the north of Asia in a very remote period.

The color and features of the Africans are so peculiar, that some philosophers have doubted their descent from Noah; but others, equally learned, are of opinion, that a long residence in the burning climate and sandy soil of Africa is sufficient to account for the dark color of its population. The antediluvians were probably tawny or copper-colored; for it is supposed they lived chiefly in the fields

and open air. The early descendants of Noah, after the flood, in Canaan, Chaldea, Persia, Arabia, and India, lived after the same manner, and were of a similar complexion. The white color of the European was probably acquired by living in high northern latitudes, and residing in houses and caves of the earth.

There is, indeed, another hypothesis, as is well known, respecting the very dark complexion of the sons of Ham, who first settled Africa; which is, that this color was inflicted by God, as a signal punishment and reproach for the wickedness of this unnatural son. It is sufficient to have referred to this opinion, in this connexion. The cause of the peculiar color of Ham's descendants, we attempt not to account for. It is generally believed, however, that the early race of Egyptians and others who settled in the north of Africa, on the shores of the Mediterranean, were not so black as the negroes the interior and farther south, who lived almost wholly without shelter or covering; and thus, in process of time, became of the deep dark color, which we now witness.

of

But we return from this digression: and, without intending to repeat, we beg concisely to state, that the arguments and facts furnished by physiology, and the opinion of learned men, go to support rather than to weaken the theory we advocate. Some writers have pretended, it is true, that the Peruvians resembled the Malays; but this has never been insisted on. It has been more seriously urged, that the Esquimaux Indians, in the northeast parts of this continent, were like the Scandinavians and Norwegians, in their features and stature. But it is also positively asserted, on the other hand, that there are no very striking resemblances between them; and that the Esquimaux resemble much more, the Samoides, a Tartar tribe in the northeast of Asia; some of whom might have passed to America, at the same time, or soon after, the company of Mongol Tartars did, and directed their course eastward across the country towards the territory, which they have since occupied.

Governor Cass, who has had much intercourse with many of the Indian tribes, and has visited several of their settlements, in different parts of the interior of the country, is decidedly of opinion that they were all, originally of one nation. He says, "that, in stature, form, high cheek bone, thinness of beard, and general appearance, there is a strong resemblance among all the American tribes; and that their traditions, customs, manners, and religious sentiments are essentially the same." The same opinion is expressed by Malte Brun. He also says, "That it is not an insuperable objection to the theory of the unity of the human species, that a great variety now exists, in the stature, color and features of mankind; for that these may be accounted for, by long and distant separation, difference of climate, of occupation, of modes of living, and of the early treatment of

children." Blumenbach asserts, that a variety in stature, as well as in strength, is owing, in some measure, to diet; in color, to climate; and that both are affected by particular diseases. Two important points are thus established; viz. that all the early inhabitants of America came from one nation, and not partly from Egypt, partly from China, partly from Malacca, partly from Africa, and partly from the north of Europe. And second, that the theory of the Unity of the human species, which admits all nations and tribes on the earth to have descended from one primeval stock, is quite consistent with the varieties to be met with, in different countries, as to shape, stature, and other physical attributes. The American Indians have, generally, the same color and facial features, and nearly the same form and stature of the Cathayan and Mongol Tartars. Their erect stature and quick step are owing to the posture in which they are placed, when infants, and to being much addicted to hunting. In some parts of the interior of North America, there are tribes called flat heads, and round heads; but this is owing to the artificial efforts of parents, upon their infant offspring; and is no evidence of a distinct race. A similar custom, or practice, with regard to children, prevails in other parts of the earth; as Sumatra, the Sandwich Islands, and in some parts of Africa. Where many resemblances and analogies can be traced, we may justly conclude, that nations are more nearly connected, than where such analogies are few and indistinct. The inhabitants of the Aleutian Islands, the Mongols, and other tribes in the eastern parts of Asia have beards like the American Indians and this fact affords a probability of the ancient descent of the latter from the former people; though not altogether satisfactory or decisive proof. The Esquimaux and Algonquins in the northeastern and central parts of this continent, resemble, in stature and physiognomy, the Samoides and the Ostiacs, ancient tribes in the north and northeast of Asia. analogies have been detected, by writers on the physiological character of the human species, between the American Indians and the Tartar race or tribes in Asia.

Other

There are, not only two or three strongly marked varieties in the human species, but there are several intermediate differences, which approach more or less nearly to one another. Besides the black African, the clear and white European, and the tawny Malay or Chinese, there are many shades of difference which must be attributed to different climates, diet, and employments, and to exposure to cold and heat, to the air and sun, in a great measure. If this be true, and most writers acknowledge it, and undisputed facts confirm the opinion, we may justly admit, that the whole human race is derived originally from a single family, according to the common belief; and also, that the progenitors of all the Indian tribes in America were of the same race or nation. There is certainly no evidence, from any

physical peculiarity of character in the aborigines of America, which militates with the opinion, that the whole population of this continent sprung from a horde of the Tartar race, which came here from the northeast of Asia, at a place where the water passage is short and easily accomplished. Nor is there any reason to doubt, that this event took place in a very remote age, and probably within 800, or 900 years of the deluge; which allows a period of nearly 3000 years for the settlement of this continent, at the time it was discovered by Columbus. It is a fact, fully established, that, in 1500, when America was first visited by the Spaniards, and long before even, most parts of the country had a dense population; and that there were works of human labor and art, for which we cannot reasonably account, but on the supposition of a very high antiquity. Artificial works, in various places, give indications of immense numbers of people, many centuries ago.

There are other considerations, suggested by the condition (and history so far as known) of the American Indians, which render it most probable, that the first inhabitants, and those from whom all the others, in successive ages, descended, emigrated from Asia, at a very remote period, and as early even as we have above supposed. Had they left the old continent, at a much later period; say, the north of Europe in the tenth or eleventh century, of our era, when great advances had been made in civilization and the arts, they would have brought such knowledge with them and transmitted it to successive generations. Alphabetic writing was unknown to the Americans in the year 1500 of the Christian era. But had their ancestors, the first people of this country, emigrated from Europe in the 11th century; had they come from the western or central, or even the eastern parts of Asia, about the same period, or as early even as the beginning of our era; or had they descended from the Jews, who were carried away into the interior of Asia, 600 years before our era, as some have supposed in either of these cases, they would have retained a knowledge of the alphabet, and a distinct recollection of the customs, arts and history of the nation from which they sprung. But the Indians of America were ignorant not only of alphabetic writing, but of some of the most useful discoveries, as of oil, and tallow, for the purpose of artificial light, which were used in Europe and Asia, in comparatively early times. Most of them, however, were acquainted with hieroglyphic writing, by which they preserved a recollection of past events. The Mexicans made great use of this art. And it is the opinion of Clavigero, Gemelli, Humboldt, Bullock and others, that the tribes far in the north and northwest had long been in the practice of this kind of writing.

It is well known, that hieroglyphic writing was used in Egypt, Chaldea, and the more eastern parts of Asia, at a very early period. It is probable the original American tribes were acquainted

with the art before they came to this continent. The argument, that the Americans descended from the Egyptians, merely because the former like the latter were in the use of hieroglyphics, deserves little consideration. For they must have had a common origin, having descended from the same nation or family, in the western parts of Asia, at a very early period, and emigrated in different directions, to far distant regions.

There has never been a thorough comparison of the Egyptian and Mexican hieroglyphics: But from what is known they are not considered so similar, as that we must conclude one nation descended from the other. As all people, even those who are very little civilized, are in the use of symbolic paintings of some sort, it is difficult to draw any conclusion, which will satisfy the judgment, unless the resemblances are very numerous.

The researches of Champollion, the celebrated French savan, now on a visit to Egypt, to decypher the hieroglyphics on the monuments and pyramids of that country, may afford facilities to decide this question. It is already known from the discoveries of this industrious and erudite antiquary, that the Egyptian hieroglyphics of the earliest dates, about the time of Joseph and Moses, are partly phonetic or alphabetic, and partly symbolical.

It has already been stated, that Sir William Jones favored the theory of the early settlement of America, by a Tartar tribe or company, from the northeast of Asia. And this migration and settlement he supposed were within 800, or 900 years of the deluge. Acosta, a learned Spaniard, and Clavigero, the diligent modern historian of Mexico, were inclined to the same opinion (although the latter suggests, that South America might have been first peopled by Malays or Chinese.) The celebrated traveller, Humboldt, a writer of great learning, and credit, favors the opinion of Sir William Jones. To these may be added the eminent geographer, Malte Brun; who says, "that the supposition of a very early occupancy of America, by an Asiatic Tartar tribe, is necessary to account for the condition and population of the territory of Anahuac and other parts of the continent, for the monuments found, and the traditions there prevailing in 1500.

Huet, Kircher, and Siguenza, a learned native Mexican of the seventeenth, century, have considered it possible (they were all far from being confident) that the Egyptians early planted a colony on some part of the western coast of America. But this opinion, or conjecture rather, was founded on the circumstance, that the American Indians, like the Egyptians, had the knowledge and were in the use of hieroglyphic writing, or painting; and erected buildings or mounds of the pyramidal form. To the first of these points, we have already referred. We consider the argument of very little force. As little weight is there in the other suggestion, as to pyramids.