504 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



Oriental descent ? For we must not forget, 

 in connection with this, that the Basque lan- 

 guage was once the language of all Spain, 

 that which the Iberian spoke, and which has 

 no direct relation to Sanskrit. 



I have alluded but slightly to the negro 

 race, and not at all to the Indians. I would 

 only add with reference to these that I begin 

 to perceive the possibility of distinguishing 

 different centres of growth in these two con- 

 tinents. If we leave out of consideration 

 fancied migrations, what connection can be 

 traced, for instance, between the Eskimos, 

 along the whole northern districts of this con- 

 tinent, and the Indians of the United States, 

 those of Mexico, those of Peru, and those of 

 Brazil ? Is there any real connection between 

 the coast tribes of the northwest coast, the 

 mound builders, the Aztec civilization, the 

 Inca, and the Gueranis? It seems to me no 

 more than between the Assyrian and Egyp- 

 tian civilization. And as to negroes, there 

 is, perhaps, a still greater difference between 

 those of Senegal, of Guinea, and the Caffres 

 and Hottentots, when compared with the Gal- 

 lahs and Mandingoes. But where is the time 

 to be taken for the necessary investigations 

 involved in these inquiries? Pray write to 



