1066 The American Naturalist. [November, 
in form of temple and sacrificial mounds, containing vases, idols, 
ornaments, and arms, 
From the character of the painting on a large vase, in excellent 
preservation, excavated at Oropoli, in Honduras, we feel strongly 
inclined to attribute the vase to a nation who came in contact with 
Israelites, Persians, or Egyptians. The face of the main figure is of 
Hebrew cast; the costume is Asiatic; Persian hat, with Egyptian veil 
or head-dress, and long narrow boots; seated on a high Egyptian 
throne, holding two clarionets in the hand. The scene represented is 
that of snake-charming, which art is usually found with Asiatic people. 
If we remember that the Phoenicians, whose history is yet half con- 
cealed in the dim twilight of human records, penetrated far out on the 
Pacific ocean, we must not wonder if future archeological discoveries 
in Mexico and Central America should prove a close relation between 
the Aztecs, or the first settlers in Honduras, with an Asiatic people 
who might have reached the shores of the New World by aid of 
navigation. 
ith these archzological remains, which indicate a high grade of 
civilization on the part of their manufacturers, we find sometimes crude 
implements, as arrowheads, hatchets made of greenstone, idols of clay 
and jade. The idols of this race are also of an Asiatic character. 
There are yet direct descendants of this race living in Honduras, 
usually called Indians, but their whole appearance, their plays and 
traditions, are Asiatic. How did this race reach Central America? is 
what we ask. Most likely by emigration from Asia v/a Behring Strait 
to North America, and from there to Central America, in a similar 
manner as the mastodon extended its migrations from the southern 
part of Europe, Asia, and North America down to Central America. 
The Asiatic or Mongolic tribes, as, for example, the Alans and Huns, 
at an early period of our history undertook large migrations, conquer- 
ing a large portion of Europe. Should not similar large Asiatic migra- 
tions have extended towards the northern part of Asia, driving its 
inhabitants over the Behring Strait to the American continent? d 
The American continent, probably once known to some Asiatic 
people, became forgotten. 
On the 14th of August, 1502, the precise records of ise mention 
the American continent in their annals. On that date Christopher 
Columbus appeared before the Cape Casinas on Honduras territory, 
and entered for the first time the American continent as the first 
stranger who rediscovered America in our historical time. 
