1 88 OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING 



nations had ever poflefled the countries of America, ,pi\ 

 vioufly to the difcovery of Columbus, yet it will be eafy 

 to demonftvate, that thefe countries were formerly pof- 

 fefled by nations much farther advanced in civilization, 

 than the greater number of the nations north of the em- 

 pire of Mexico : by nations who muft have been ex- 

 tremely numerous. 



I do not fuppofe that thefe moi^e polifhed nations of 

 America have entirely paffed away. Some of them, it 

 is probable, are extinguifhed. But of others, I fuppofe 

 that it is chiefly the ftrength and the glory that are no 

 more. Their defcendants are ftill fcattered over exten- 

 five portions of this continent, fubfifting chiefly by 

 filhing and by the chafe ; and contenting themfelves 

 with a flender and imperfect agriculture, fuch as is fuited 

 to the manners and the numbers of rude and uncultivated 

 tribes. 



In an inquiry into the hiftory of the Americans, the 

 mind, unbialfed by fyftem, calm and deliberate in its re- 

 fearch, cannot fail to difcover unequivocal proofs of the 

 ancient flrength and rcfpe£tability of the anceftors of 

 many of the favage Indian tribes who now inhabit the 

 countries^ of America. The limits of this letter will not 

 permit me to exhibit a full view of the arguments which 

 may be adduced in favour of this opinion. All that I 

 fhall attempt to do, is to mention fome of the principal 

 heads of proofs ; and that in as concife a manner as I 

 well can. 



That many of the North- American tribes are the de- 

 fcendants of nations much more populous, and much 

 more polifhed, than themfelves, I infer from the follow- 

 ing circumfl;ances : viz. 



Firfl. From their traditions. According to thefe tra- 

 ditions, many Indian nations were much more numercus 

 and improved in ancient times, than when the Europeans 

 2 firfl 



