Sketches From Oldest America 



from the east by the increasing cold. They seem 

 to have made an impression on the older languages 

 of Europe in the line of their words and grammar, 

 and it is also probable that their tradition of the 

 earliest state of man may have led to the fable of 

 the sea nymph. 



The Sev^'ard Peninsula continued rising until at 

 last it entirely emerged above the water, disclosing 

 those wonderful deposits of gold that of late years 

 have made Nome famous throughout the world. 

 The rising land formed a barrier against the warm- 

 ing influence of the Japan current. Then the Arctic 

 winters set in with their utmost severity, continuing 

 until at last Nature came to the relief of this ice- 

 bound region. A portion of the land nearest Asia 

 sank, forming what is now known as the Behring 

 Straits, again admitting the Japan current to exert 

 its ameliorating influence on the Arctic sections. 

 Our seasons then assumed pretty much the same 

 conditions they have now. Tradition states that in 

 the past there have been severe earthquakes in this 

 section and it may be due to such a cause that the 

 land subsided. 



As the seasons grew more and more severe. 

 Nature, according to tradition, took care of the seal 

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