Ch. XX.] OKIGIX OF THE IXDIAXS. 303 



came an immigration from the far north-west, of nomadic 

 tribes from north-eastern Asia, who drove out the mound 

 builders. The latter retreated back to Mexico, that their 

 fathers had left ages before, and were the ancient Toltecs. 

 Later on, the Aztecs, who were the southern branch of 

 the ancient Mexicans, invaded Mexico from the south, 

 and supplanted the Toltecs. Another branch of the same 

 ancient stock were the Mayas of Yucatan.* 



Looking then far back we have, according to the old 

 traditions, a few people who had escaped a great cata- 

 clysm, when fire and water both fought against mankind. 

 Remnants perhaps of many tribes who, when the lowlands 

 were overwhelmed, escaped to the mountains, speaking 

 a variety of languages, and bringing with them some 

 remembrances of the civilization of their ancient home. 

 They increased and multiplied in their new abodes, some 

 in Mexico, some in Yucatan, and others in Peru arrived 

 at a great pitch of civilization. Ages passed away, they 

 had developed into several distinct peoples, all showing 

 traces of their common descent, but having branched off 

 in different directions in their lines of progress ; all 

 underlaid by a few great principles : in their religion, 

 by the worship of the heavenly bodies; in their govern- 

 ment, by complete and absolute obedience to their kings 

 and leaders ; in their mode of life all agriculturists and 

 dwellers in regular towns and villages. They spread 

 northward and occupied the valley of the Mississippi, and 

 in summer time sent off large bodies of workmen to 

 extract the copper of Lake Superior. Then came the 

 nomadic tribes from the north- west, the red Indians 

 of the present day, and drove out the mound builders, 



* Ancient America, by J. D. Baldwin, A.M. 



