J40 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book III 



and undoubtedly many fuch changes have happened on this earth, 

 of land into water, and alfo of water into land *. 



The Afiatics, who peopled America from the north-eaft parts, as I 

 have faid of Afia, would undoubtedly carry their language with them, 

 and did fo, as it appears, to the mod northerly parts of America : 

 For it is now difcovered, that there is a very great affinity betwixt 

 the language of the Kamfchatkans, who inhabit thofe north-eaft 

 parts of Afia, and the language of the Efquimeaux ; and there is 

 alfo a great refemblance in their cuftoms and manners, and like- 

 wife in their faces and perfons. The language, thus brought into 

 America, muft, according to my hypothefis, have come originally 

 from Egypt : And with it there is come into North America a very 

 Angular cuftom of the Egyptians, as it is remarked by Herodotus, 

 and which was peculiar to them ; I mean the cuftom of the men 

 making water fitting, and the women ftanding. This is the univer- 

 fal cuftom among the North American Indians, as Mr Adair, in his 

 hiftpry of the American Indians, has told usf . And he has told us 

 in the fame place, that he was informed that it was alfo the cuftom in 

 Mexico. Now this author was longer in America than I believe 

 any European ever was, who returned to Europe ; for he was forty 

 years in that country; and, as he was a trader with the Indians, was 

 very much among them, not only in the way of bufinefs, but often 

 in their parties of pleafure, and ibmetimes in their campaigns. He 

 therefore had an opportunity of being very well informed of the 

 fadts which he relates, efpecially a fad of this kind falling under 



common 



* See, upon this fubjeiTt, Strabo, Lib. i. towards the middle; whefe there is a very 

 curious account given of the feveral changes that have happened in different countries, 

 by Inundations and Earthquakes. — See alfo upon the fame fubjcft, Sheringhame, De 

 Ariglonim Origine. 



t Page 216. 



