4 A M E K I C A N ARC II M O L O G Y . 



What the prolific fancy of Paracelsus suggested, among the bold assumptions of 

 his peculiar genius, 1 and Voltaire, Lord Karnes, and others, have argued upon 

 general philosophical principles, some naturalists are now attempting to deduce 

 from observation, viz: that the races of men and animals were severally created 

 in the regions which they inhabit. A distinct and intimate connection is asserted 

 to exist between the fauna of different latitudes and the races of men associated 

 with them. The diversity and distribution of men and animals were a stumbling- 

 block to early writers, which but few ventured to overleap by explanations deemed 

 inconsistent with sacred history. If we may judge from the tendency of recent 

 publications, we must be prepared for the readvancement of an ancient theory, now 

 based upon geological phenomena, the structure of native dialects, and other scien- 

 tific data, which would give the New World precedence of the Old one, as sooner 

 prepared for the occupancy of human and brute creation, and as actually inhabited 

 at a more remote period. 2 



The plausible theory of an original communication between the two continents 

 by means of lands now submerged in the Atlantic, has always found numerous 

 supporters. A belief has also prevailed that without such means of transmission, 

 emigration took place from Africa to America before the flood. 3 



Passing from the question of an antediluvian population on the American Continent, 

 supposed, moreover, to be indicated by Mexican traditions, we meet with writers 

 who imagine they discover evidences of settlement in this country by the immediate 

 descendants of Noah. For example, it has been advanced by biblical critics that 

 Juctan, or Joctan, son of Heber, founded a city in Peru; and that colonies were 

 planted by Ophir and Johab his sons. It was a belief entertained" by distinguished 

 Hebrew scholars, that Ophir, to which land of gold the ships hired of the Tyrians 

 by Solomon, sailed on a three years' voyage, must be in America. 



Tornielli, the annalist, was of opinion that the descendants of Shem and Ham 

 passed to America by way of Japan. 



From some supposed resemblance of religious rites, Gomara, De Lery, and Les- 

 carbot, 4 who had opportunities of personal observation in America., and in different 

 regions, concluded that the natives were descended from the Canaanites whom 

 Joshua compelled to seek a new habitation ; a theory which, in later times, and 

 upon different grounds, seemed to President Stiles, of Yale College, the most pro- 

 bable of any that had been advanced. 



' "Omnium Stnltitiain Theophrastus Paracelsus exhausit, qui duplicein Adamum, alium in Asia, in 

 America alium creatum asserit." — JJornhis de Originibus Americanis, Lib. I , Cap. 2. 

 '- "Types of Mankind," by Messrs. Nott and Gliddon, Ch. IX., p. 271, et seq. 



3 "Opus Chronographicum ab orbe Condito" of Peter Opmeer, Auvers, 1611. 



4 Francesco Lopez de Gomara, professor of rhetoric, who came to Mexico to prepare his history of 

 its conquest, Jean de Lery, a French Calvinist, who was sent to aid Villegnanon in establishing a 

 protestant colony in Brazil, in 1556-7. An English translation of his account of Brazil was printed in 

 L611. Mark Lescarbot, advocate of the parliament of Paris, who aided in forming the first French 

 establishment in Canada, and wrote " Ilistoire de la Nonvelle France," Paris, 1609. 



