84 LEAVES FROM THE BOOK OF NATURE. 



traditions speak simply and vaguely first of a rude, original 

 race which lived in the fertile plains of the West, and of 

 a more powerful and more civilized race which, at a later 

 period, came from the North, moved victoriously south- 

 ward, and subjugated the early owners of the soil. The 

 difference of the two contending races is confirmed by the 

 study of their skulls. But we know not whence the native 

 settlers came, nor whence the foreign invaders. It is con- 

 jectured, and with good reason, that as this continent is 

 geologically older than that of Europe, so its occupation, 

 also, dates from times previous to the Christian history 

 of the Old World. In those days, however, the nations 

 of Asia are invariably represented as leading a pastoral 

 life, and as having, consequently, long domesticated the 

 ox and the sheep. It is, then, in the highest degree im- 

 probable that emigrants of those times, should have left 

 these incalculable blessings behind them, if, as many be- 

 lieve, they went from Asia by a northwest passage across 

 the Atlantic to America. Yet, no trace of domestic ani- 

 mals was found here. As improbable, however, is it that, 

 if by accident they should have been compelled to leave 

 them behind, they should not at once have set to work, 

 in continuance of ancient custom, to tame the buffalo, the 

 vicuna, and the alpaca, as the Europeans did when they 

 arrived on this continent. 



Setting this only great riddle aside, and resuming all 

 that myths, traditions, and revelation itself, tell us, so 

 much only seems to be certain, that all migrations of men, 

 like those of plants and animals, have gone from the 

 rising to the setting sun. Everywhere history begins with 



