HISTORY OF VERMONT. 227 



Hindoos, to an higher antiquity, than we can 

 find with certainty in any other nation. These 

 were the Indians, or red men of Asia* And 

 the Indians of both continents, are marked with 

 the same pecuharity of colour. The distin- 

 guishing colour of the Indian, is red, or rather 

 a reddish brown ; resembling, but more dark 

 than a copper colour. From this similarity of 

 complexion, it is natural to conjecture, that the 

 Indian of Asia and of America belonged to the 

 same family. 2. T\\^ features and countenance 

 of the American Indians, very much resem.ble 

 those of another of the nations of Asia, the Tar- 

 tars. The Tartars join upon India, are spread 

 over the northern parts of Asia, and extend to 

 the eastern coasts of the Pacific ocean. Of 

 their appearance and countenance, geographers 

 give us this account : " They are in general 

 strong made, stout men ; Their faces broad, 

 their noses fiattish, their eyes small and black, 

 but very quick."*" The Indians of America 

 are thus described, by those who had lived long 

 among them : " The limbs are well turned, the 

 body of just proportion, the countenance bro:id, 

 their nose flat, their eyes black, small, but capa- 

 ble of discerning objects at a great distance. "f 

 If these descriptions had been taken from the 

 same individual, there could not have been a 

 greater agreement, in every circumstance of as- 

 pect and countenance. 



3. Some information respecting the descent 

 of nations, may also be derived from their ciis- 

 k)ms. Those customs and manners which arise 



♦ Guthrie's Geog. p. 660. 



+ UHQa'$ and Pint* s aeceunt. Robertson's Hfst. Amer. I, /\t>o. 



