100 Dr. Hodgkin on the Importance of Studying and 



America. That the Caribs, living at a great distance in an- 

 other direction, procured a somewhat similar distortion by 

 analogous means, is a well-known fact. We have therefore 

 evidence of the wide extension of a similar custom whether a 

 similarity of race be admitted or not. 



If, however, we can find reasons in favour of the probability 

 of America having in part at least received its population from 

 the islands of the Pacific, we must not lose sight of those reasons 

 which with at least equal probability give support to the idea that 

 America was peopled from Asia from the north-west : the near 

 approach of these continents in that direction, the traditions 

 which still existed amongst the Mexicans when Europeans first 

 became acquainted with them, and which Clavigero and Hum- 

 boldt have so successfully rescued from oblivion, the very strik- 

 ing similarities between the calendar of the Mexicans and that of 

 some Asiatic nations which Humboldt has pointed out, afford 

 arguments in favour of this side of the question which are ge- 

 nerally known and admitted. My friend Joseph Hawse, who 

 has paid great attention to the languages spoken by the North 

 American Indians, informs me that he has observed points of 

 resemblance between these languages and those which are 

 spoken by the Tartar tribes. This, however, is a subject on 

 which much further philological research is required before 

 we can rest satisfied with any conclusions which may be drawn. 

 I must further remark, that if in the observation which I have 

 made respecting a resemblance between the form of the head 

 iw some of the South Sea Islands and that of some races which 

 either exist at present or have existed in America, more espe- 

 cially towards the western coast of South America, we find an 

 argument in favour of the Polynesian descent of Americans, 

 there is also evidence of a similar character in favour of an 

 Asiatic origin by a north-western route. Through the kind- 

 ness of my friend Captain Chapman, the museum of Guy's 

 Hospital is possessed of casts of skulls which were taken 

 from very ancient tumuli which existed not far from the 

 Falls of Niagara, which tumuli are considered to have been 

 the work of a race which inhabited that district prior to the 

 Indian race with which we are at present acquainted. These 

 skulls bear a most striking resemblance to those of the Esqui- 

 maux, which are known to exhibit the character of the Mon- 

 golian rather than of the Malay race. In the same tumulus 

 with these skulls there were found various implements, such as 

 bracelets of copper, breastplates of shell, and pieces of wam- 

 pum, and, what is most remarkable, a large shell truncated 

 so as to serve as a trumpet, which has been asserted to be an 

 Asiatic and not an American production. It would appear 



