218 Distinctive Characteristics of the 



tion. Nothing like this is observed ; the population of South 

 America, and of Darien, Guatimala and Mexico, being much 

 greater in proportion than that of any country farther north. 

 The marks of early civilization, too, one of the most impor- 

 tant proofs of long residence in a fixed spot, are all, as in the 

 older world, in favor of the tropical climates."* 



We may further inquire, how it happens that during the 

 lapse of more than three hundred years since the discovery of 

 America, there has not been an authenticated immigration 

 from Asia ? The long and desolating wars which have driven 

 whole nations from the central to the northern parts of that con- 

 tinent, have not supplied a single colony to the New World. 

 Nay, if such colonization had occurred within a thousand or 

 two thousand years, would we not now possess more indubi- 

 table evidences of it in language, customs and the arts ? 



We propose in the next place, to make a very few observa- 

 tions in reference to the idea that America has been peopled 

 by the Malay race, which, in the ordinary classification, in- 

 cludes the Malays proper of the Indian Archipelago, and the 

 Polynesians in all their numberless localities. These people, 

 however, have so much of the Mongolian character, that nearly 

 the same objections arise to both. The head of the Malay 

 proper, is more like that of the Indian, because it not unfre- 

 quently presents something of the vertical form of the occi- 

 put ; and the transverse diameter, as measured between the 

 parietal bones, is also remarkably large. But excepting in 

 these respects, the osteological developement coincides with 

 that of the Mongolian ; while the whole category of objec- 

 tions which we have just urged against the latter people, is 

 equally valid in respect to the whole Malay race. For inde- 

 pendently of differences of organization, how great is the 

 disparity in their arts and social institutions ! So great, 

 indeed, that to account for it. Dr. Lang, one of the most inge- 

 nious supporters of the theory, insists on an intellectual 

 degeneracy, consequent to change of climate and circumstan- 

 ces. '' It is an easy and natural process," says he, •' for man 



•On the Origin of the Indian Population of America. By B H. Coatks, 

 M. D. 1834. 



