ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 67 
Early Migrations—Ancient Maritime Intercourse of West- 
ern Nations before the Christian Era, Ethnologically 
considered. and Chronologically arranged, Dllustrat- 
ing Facilities for Migration among early types of 
the human race. 
BY CHARLES WOLCOTT BROOKS. 
In all subdivisions of races, we are apt, at first, to look superficially upon 
different nations as separate and complete types of humanity. The brief 
synopsis here collected from ancient histories, clearly reveals the extent of 
maritime intercourse, actually developed by western nations up to fully 
4,000 years ago. By such statistics, acquired with sufficient details to trace 
facilities for admixture, the inference fairly follows: that maritime nations of 
Asia, including the Japanese, whose origin we are soon to examine, may have 
enjoyed like facilities of intercommunication; and consequently, in common 
with all maritime peoples at this stage of human existence, became to a cer- 
tain extent mixed and composite. 
Until we reflect, we know not the possibilities of human nature. The 
exact justice of all nature’s arrangements, and the unerring actions of her 
laws is exhibited in her method of developing man. He is carniverous, hence 
combative; gregarious, therefore social. This is equally true of individ- 
uals and of nations. If we follow out this thought, we shall find man, even 
in his perturbations, is a creature of law. ‘ 
All matter is similar in substance, differing only in degree of development. 
The refinement of matter is a process ceaselessly going on in the Eastern 
as well as in the Western hemisphere; for the parental law of physical and 
mental formation, and progressive development is universal, coéxtensive and 
coéyal with nature, No solitary world or people has a special code of laws. 
God, the controlling power, is law, impartial and universal. Man is the 
highest physical ultimate of matter endowed with a progressive prin- 
ciple. To him, religion is a grand, progressive, moral science, unfolding his 
physical and mental qualities by exact and eternal law. It everywhere 
teaches him that the aspect of all created things is continually changing, and 
in obedience to law he must advance, for all present conditions periodically 
perish. With constantly changing conditions, an endless evolution of forms 
and ideas is ceaselessly occurring. 
Nature is everywhere instinctive with life; attractive and repulsive forces 
are exerted over atoms and bodies, and equally over minds. These, in the 
latter case, influence migrations. Capricious influences often intervene to 
determine direction; for nature works by greater or lesser impulses, yet her 
methods determined by law, are always adapted to the end in view, to the 
plan of the Great Architect, the Intelligent Mind of the Universe. 
