MIGRATION OF TRIBES. 361 



fersed. Such were the journeys of the Toltec and Aztt* 

 race in the high plains of Mexico, from the sixth to the 

 eleventh century of our era; such probably was also the 

 movement of nations by which the petty tribes of Canada 

 were grouped together. As the immense country between 

 the equator and the eighth degree of north latitude forms one 

 continue us forest, the hordes were there dispersed by follow- 

 ing the branchings of the rivers, and the nature of the land 

 compelled them to become more or less agriculturists. 

 Such is the labyrinth of these rivers, that families settled 

 themselves without knowing what race of men lived nearest 

 the spot. In Spanish Guiana a mountain, or a forest half a 

 league broad, sometimes separates hordes who could not meet 

 in less than two days by navigating rivers. In open coun- 

 tries, or in a state of advanced civilization, communication 

 by rivers contributes powerfully to generalize languages, 

 manners, and political institutions ; but in the impenetrable 

 forests of the torrid zone, as in the first rude condition 

 of our species, rivers increase the dismemberment of great 

 nations, favour the transition of dialects into languages that 

 appear to us radically distinct, and keep up national hatred 

 and mistrust. Between the banks of the Caura and the 

 Padamo everything bears the stamp of disunion and weak- 

 ness. Men avoid, because they do not understand each 

 other; they mutally hate, because they mutually fear. 



When we examine attentively this wild part of America, 

 we fancy ourselves transported to those primitive times 

 when the earth was peopled by degrees, and we seem to be 

 present at the birth of human societies. In the old world 

 we see that pastoral life has prepared the hunting nations 

 for agriculture. In the New World we seek in vain these 

 progressive developments of civilization, these intervals of 

 repose, these stages in the life of nations. The luxurv of 

 vegetation embarrasses the Indians in the chase; and in 

 their rivers, resembling arms of the sea, the depth of the 

 waters prevents fishing during whole months. Those 

 species of ruminating animals, that constitute the wealth 

 of the nations of the Old World, are wanting in the New 

 The bison and the musk-ox have never been reduced to a 

 domestic state; the breeding of llamas and guanacos haa 

 not created the habits of pastoral life. In the temperate 



