6 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 40 



It was only when our knowledge of the Indian tribes increased, 

 that differences between the various types of man inhabiting our 

 continent became known. Differences in degree of culture, as well 

 as differences in language, were recognized at an early time. Much 

 later came a recognition of the fact that the Indians of our conti- 

 nent differ in type as much among themselves as do the members of 

 other races. 



As soon as investigators began to concern themselves with these 

 questions, the problem of the position of the natives of America 

 among the races of mankind came to be of considerable interest, 

 and speculations in regard to their origin and relationships occur 

 even in the early descriptions of the New World. 



Among the earlier attempts we find particularly endeavors to 

 prove that certain parts of the beliefs and customs of the Indians 

 agree with those of the Old World. Such agreements were consid- 

 ered proof that the Indians belong to one of the races enumerated 

 in biblical history; and the theory that they represent the lost 

 tribes of Israel was propounded frequently, and has held its own 

 for a long time. In a similar way were traced analogies between 

 the languages of the New World and those of the Old World, and 

 many investigators believe even now that they have established 

 such relationships. Attempts were also made to prove similarities 

 in appearance between the American races and other races, and 

 thus to determine their position among the races of the Old World. 



Classifications based on Physical Type, Language, and 



Custonis 



The problems involved in the determination of the relations of 

 the various races have been approached from two different points 

 of view — either the attempt has been made to assign a definite posi- 

 tion to a race in a classificatory system of the races of man, or the 

 liistory of the race has been traced as far back as available data 

 may permit. 



The attempts to classify mankind are numerous. Setting aside the 

 classifications based on biblical tradition, and considering only those 

 that are based on scientific discussion, we find a number of attempts 

 based on comparisons of the anatomical characteristics of mankind, 

 combined with geographical considerations; others are based on the 

 discussion of a combination of anatomical and cultural character- 



