232 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



inhabitants are frequently passing from the one 

 to the other. The cliscovtries of the Russians, 

 and the greater discoveries of the most celebra- 

 ted modern navigator, Captain Cook, ha\e made 

 it certain that if the two continents are sej. cra- 

 ted at all, it is only by a strait, not more than 

 eighteen miles in width. At no time within 

 the period of history, was the ni;vigation of the 

 rudest tribes unequal to the passage of such ^ 

 strait. And probably there never has been any 

 difficulty, in passing from the one continent to 

 the other. 



It is not improbable that the red men of 

 Asia, might find a passage into America alto- 

 gether by navigation. *' It has been long 

 li no wn that the Asiatic nation called the 

 Malayans^ possessed in former tim.es, much the 

 largest part of the trade of the Indies ; and 

 that their ships frequented, not only all the 

 coasts of Asia, but even those of Alrica, and 

 particularly the large island of Madagascar. 

 It has been more lately discovered, that the 

 same nation had extended their voyages and 

 migrations from Madagascar, to the Marquesas, 

 and Easter Island ; that is nearly from the east 

 side of Africa, until we approach the west coast 

 of America. This space includes almost one 

 half of the circurnfertnce of the globe. Thro* 

 this immense space the Malayans had spre^id, 

 made setlleuients, ard founded colonies in the 

 islands at all the intei mediate stages, at an im- 

 mense distance from the parent continent. 

 The vo} ages of Captain Cook have afforded 

 the proof of these historical facts: And tliej 

 have been asccrtahied not only by a similarity o^ 



