216 On the peopling of America. 



By a general view of the human race and its varieties on the 

 old continent, and by comparing those people with the original 

 inhabitants of America, we must be convinced that men are all 

 descended from the same stock, and that America wiis peopled 

 from the other continent; but we have no information concern- 

 ing the time in which the first colonists were transported. The 

 great extent of population in America, when Columbus made 

 his discoveries, about three hundred years ago, is a sufficient 

 proof that many years had elapsed since the aborigines had come 

 to this continent ; but the modern date of the largest and most 

 populous empires then existing in America, has been sui)poscd 

 to justify a belief, that the first settlement of America was re- 

 cent, when compared with that of the other continent. At the 

 period to which I refer, America was settled in all directions, 

 from north to south, although no part of it was fully peopled ; 

 nor had any progress been made in lliose arts which arc the fruit 

 of necessity in old and numerous societies. Those circumstances, 

 however, can neither be urt^ed in proof of a very ancient nor a 

 very recent settlement. Migrations, in the old continent, have 

 lately been the effect of a crcwded population ; but migrations 

 in America sprang from a different cause. The first adventurers, 

 who were little attached to their native soil, could hardly be at- 

 taclied to a particular part of the land they had discovered. Sus- 

 taining themselves without laboin-, in a country that abounded 

 in game, they acquired habits of idleness. When the game be-r 

 came scarce in one part, they removed to another. The same 

 s>pirit produces the same effects, among the present white inha- 

 bitants of North x\merica. The more adventurous, more fickle, 

 or more indolent, move to the frontiers, and settle upon nev/ 

 lands. When the range is impaired, or the game diminished, 

 those very men, or their children, move onward, and follow the 

 range; for they raise little corn, eating flesh instead of bread ; 

 whence their habits of idleness become inveterate. As the ocean 

 yields a supply of food, that is more easily caught than birds or 

 beasts, it follows that the sea coast was first explored ; but the 

 greater number oi inhabitants were found in warm or temperate 

 climates ; because in such climates the means of subsistence 

 were easy. In this manner every part of America may have been 

 visited, and sparse settlements formed, within a few centuries 

 after it was first discovered. Iir this manner too, as we are taught 

 by civil history, the other continent was originally settled, the 

 first migrations were not tlie effect of a crowded population ; they 

 were caused by a rambling or adventurous temper. Every country 

 was first visited by single families, or by small parties, who mi- 

 grated in the spirit of ambition, discontent or caprice, from young 

 colonies or new governments. We have the names of men ou 



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