156 The Oriijin and Histury of the Red Race. 



close by tlie signs of social decadence ; the second^ distinguished by na- 

 tional changes, the inroads of barbarous or semi-civilized tribes, the ex- 

 tinction or subjugation of the old and the foundation of new and more 

 extensive empires ; and, 



V. That the first seats of civilization were in central America, whence 

 population was diffused through both continents, from Cape Horn to the 

 Arctic Ocean. 



In relation to the question of their origin, it appears — 



I. That the Red race, under various modifications, may be traced phy- 

 sically into Etruria, Egypt, J.Iadagascar, Ancient Scythia, Mongolia, 

 China, Ilindoostan, Malaya, Polynesia, and America, and was a primi- 

 tive and cultivated branch of the human family ; and, 



II. That the American aborigines are more or less connected with 

 these several countries, by striking analogies in their arts, — their customs 

 and traditions, — their hieroglj-phical painting, — their architecture and 

 temple-building, — their astronomical systems, and their superstitions, 

 religion, and theocratical governments. It has long been a favourite 

 theory-, to trace the aborigines to a Tartar or Mongol migration from Si- 

 beria, by Behring's Straits. But the Mexicans and Peruvians resemble 

 the cultivated nations of Oriental Asia, even more closely than do the 

 ruder tribes, the Siberian nomades ; in fact, thej' are all of the same 

 race, and, both in Asia and America, a decline into barbarism has pro- 

 duced analogous developments, which, in connection with the relics of 

 their ancient religion and customs, nearly assimilate the savages of botli 

 continents. It is not to be denied, that there are some tribes in North 

 America, which may have proceeded in modern times from Siberia, — for 

 example, — the Chippewyans,* and perhaps the Sioux, the Osages, Paw- 

 necSjt and some of the North- Western nations ;\ but even in relation 

 to thee, the proof depends mainly upon vague and uncertain traditions. 

 But to suppose that the ]\Iexicans, the Toltccs, the Cliiapanesc, tiie 

 Mayas, and the Peruvians, were the descendants of such degraded and 

 savage hordes as occupy north-eastern Asia ; or that they wandered from 

 more southern Asiatic countries, through the cold and inhospitable re- 

 gions of the north, without leaving any vestige of civilization on their 

 way, appears equally contrary to experience and philosophy. The an- 

 cient monuments in Siberia are situated to the west and to the south, 

 those of America are limited in their extent on the north-west ; and, in 

 spite of the facility of communication aflbrded by the contiguity of the 

 two continents in that direction, these facts would seem to be decisive 

 of the question. On the other hand, the evidence of an early knowledge 

 of the compass In China, of the great maritime skill of the Malays, and 



* Mackenzie's Journal, pp. 387, 113. 



t Pike's Expedition, part i. p. 63 ; part ii. p. 9, 14. 



J Saucr, pp. 100, 177- Coxe, pp. 151, 257. 



