376 ETHNOLOGY. 



the ueigliboring savage tribes than iu the old continents. In some hot 

 countries, as Guiana, Brazil, topical reasons have retarded this ; as 

 yearly inundations; excessive number of insects, particularly mosqui- 

 toes ; wild beasts, &c. 



After the first progress of civilization the neighboring savage tribes, 

 among which we may count the Aztecs, who appear to have been in 

 nothing different from our contemporary Comanches, Arapahoes, Sioux, 

 &c., made,like of old the Scandinavians, irruptions on their more southern 

 neighbors, destroying again partially what had been gained, but accept- 

 ing part of the advantages of their conquered people. The inhabitants 

 of Central America were much farther advanced before the dissemination 

 of those barbarous tribes than at the arrival of Cortez. This is shown 

 by the ruins still in existence. It was a great misfortune. Those savages, 

 less docile than the Goths, were slow in receiving the advantages of their 

 conquest. Accustomed to a roaming life, expert in war, they destroyed 

 in a few years what had cost thousands to build. Then commenced a 

 reign of terror. The vanquished were obliged to work for their con- 

 querors, creating those rude monuments, as the stone-mounds, the 

 pyramid of Cholulu, and other similar works, which could only have 

 emanated from the brains of half-savages, and been executed by a peo- 

 ple completely enslaved. But this had its limit. The conquerors 

 gradually accepted such benefits from their vassals as suited them, so 

 that if the Spaniards had not arrived, civilization would have taken a 

 new start, as at this time the Aztecs were strong enough to keep at bay 

 all new irruptions from the north. 



Aztec hieroglyphics are too obscure to give us a longer insight into 

 their history than for a century or two at most. Spanish historians have 

 given free scope to their lively imagination, exaggerating and distort- 

 ing whatever came under their hands. The Spanish clergy seized and 

 burned what could throw any light on history, and wrote about what 

 best suited them. The real and only true documents we can with safety 

 count upon are the monuments, ruins, implements of industry and war, 

 which are yet in existence ; anything else will only lead us astray. 



CCOIJNT OF ANTIQUITIES IN TENNESSEE. 



By E. O. Duxnln'G. 



Chilhowee, Tennessee, June 19, 1S70. 

 The territory recently explored by myself lies along Little Tennessee 

 River, in Blount County, Tennessee, and extends about twenty-live miles 

 into North Carolina, a country once inhabited by the Cherokees. One 

 of their principal routes from the south to the "Over-hill Towns" passed 

 through it. For miles the old trail may be seen crossing Chilhowee 

 Mountain in a straight line, according to the Indian course, between 



