278 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



and an axe of flint, all within its hollow. Canoes of great 

 capacity were necessary to nautical invaders of populous 

 islands, and the materials for constructing them abounded on 

 the north coast of South America ; and, indeed, in the northern 

 portion, there still remain rude sculptures of very long vessels 

 of this class, manned with numerous rowers, particularly on 

 tide rocks, in Massachusetts and elsewhere. 



At foot note, page 270, we should have noticed, in confirma- 

 tion of the northern and marine migration of some tribes, that 

 the Chichimecs relate, that after they emerged out of seven 

 "caves" (islands), they travelled to Amassiemecan, or the 

 northernmost portion of America. Perhaps they were Aleu- 

 tians, and the term caves, if not denoting islands, may refer to 

 canoes, which, in many languages, bear names allusive, like 

 caves, to hollowness, Altei. The legend is exceedingly like 

 that in Strabo, which relates to the original seven Cyclopeans, 

 who first came from Lycia by sea. They evidently designate 

 ships' crews, since they began soon after to build works of 

 huge stones, such as those near their caves at Nauplia, &c. 

 Votan, the third personage in the Mexican Calendar, according 

 to Francisco Nunes, was the leader of seven families, who 

 came from an island to America, and then brought seven more 

 to the same country. But the bishop of Chiapa is questionable 

 authority. 



