Description of the Remains of a MamrrKfth, 153 



northern regions ; — to this it does not seem reasonable to 

 start objections, although several writers have done so : but 

 what remains inexplicable is, to ascertain, How came the 

 mammoth to be buried in the ice ? Perhaps the peninsula 

 of Tumut has been slowly formed. In course of time a 

 general inundation must have covered all the north part of 

 the globe, and caused the death of this animal ; which, after 

 having floated for some time among the masses of ice, was 

 finally driven by a gust, of wind upon the sand-bank not 

 far from the shore. The sea, upon afterwards retiring with- 

 in its limits, must have buried the body of the mammoth. 

 But of what use are all these hypotheses, even if they had a 

 high degree of probability ? — How can we reconcile facts 

 which seem so contrary ? Two years ago similar relics were 

 found in the environs of Kirengsk, upon the banks of the 

 Lena, at a greater distance from the sea, and they had fallen 

 into the bed of the river : others have been found in provinces 

 further south from the Wolga ; and they have been discovered 

 in Germany and in Spain. These are just so many incontes- 

 table proofs of a general deluge. We must believe that the 

 country of the mammoth was of immense extent : but I 

 shall not at present prosecute inquiries which might lead 

 us into a labyrinth of hypotheses : T shall merely add, that 

 it appears incontestable to me that there has existed a world 

 of a very antient date ; and Cuvier, without intending it, 

 gives evident proofs of this in his system, by the twenty- 

 four species of animals, the races of which are extinct. In 

 the mean time I beg the indulgence of the curious reader in 

 the perusal of this essay. I purpose giving the osteology 

 of the mammoth with all that precision which Camper has 

 devoted to a similar work. i 



Michael Adams*. 



Pttcrsburj^h, 

 Awg. 20, 1807. 



* The author of the above essay oflTers his skeleton for sale, and meant to 

 employ the money it shall produce to liim, in a journey toward^ the north 

 pole, and particularly in visiting the island of Ljachow, or Sichow, which, 

 from information received in hif late journey, he believes to be a part of the 

 ♦ ontiiiint of Kurth Anurica. 



XXIV. Es, 



ay 



