96 INTRODUCTION. 



like, upon the two great oceans," " the mediator between the two 

 extremities of the world." Physical geography also teaches, what 

 history confirms, that the three great northern continents are pecu- 

 liarly organized for the full development of man ; they may be 

 styled the historic continents, eacli having a special function in his 

 education, and corresponding to the periods of his progress. Of 

 the white race, the most perfect type of humanity, Western 

 may be called the cradle, both physically and morally; the dwelling- 

 place of the chosen people, from whom Christianity was to spread 

 over the earth. Europe " is the school where his youth was trained, 

 where he waxed in strength and knowledge, and grew to a wion." 

 "America is the theatre of his activity during manhood ; the land 

 where he applies and practises all he has learned, and brings into 

 action all the forces he has acquired." 



The precise period of man's appearance on the earth is not 

 known, as authors very variously interpret the Jewish and other 

 chronologies. It is not improbable that the generally received 

 opinion on the subject falls short of the truth, and that man has 

 lived upon the earth for a longer period than 6000 years. 



Since the above was written, there has been published a valuable 

 work, by Mr. Schoolcraft,* from which we quote a few paragraphs. 



The languages of the Indians " have been pronounced, on very 

 slender materials, to contain high refinements in forms of expres- 

 sion ; an opinion which there is reason to believe requires great 

 modifications, however terse and beautiful the languages are in their 

 power of combination. The aboriginal archaeology has fallen under 

 a somewhat similar spirit of misapprehension and predisposition to 

 exaggeration. The antiquities of the United States are the antiqui- 

 ties of barbarism, and not of ancient civilization. Mere age they 

 undoubtedly have ; but when we look about our magnificent forests 

 and fertile valleys for ancient relics of the traces of the plough, the 

 compass, the pen, and the chisel, it must require a heated imagina- 

 tion to perceive much, if anything at all, beyond the hunter state of 

 arts, as it existed at the respective eras of the Scandinavian and 



* Historical and Statistical Information, respecting tbe History, Con- 

 dition, and Prospects of the Indian Tribes of the United States. By 

 Henry R. Schoolcraft, LL. D. Philadelphia: 1351. 



