THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 533 



the greater numbers of their new acquaintance, save the bold and decided character 

 which they have bequeathed to the Indian races, and such of their customs as the 

 Indians were pleased to adopt, and which they have preserved to the present day. 



I am induced to believe thus from the very many customs which I have witnessed 

 amongst them that appear to be decidedly Jewish, and many of them so peculiarly 

 so that it would seem almost impossible, or at all events exceedingly improbable, 

 that two people in a state of nature should have hit upon them and practiced them 

 exactly alike. 



The world need not expect me to decide so interesting and difficult a question, but 

 I am sure they will be disposed to hear simply my opinion, which I give in this place 

 quite briefly, and with the utmost respectful deference to those who think differently. 

 I claim no merit whatever for advancing such an opinion, which is not new, having 

 been in several works advanced to the world by far abler pens than my own, with 

 volumes of evidence, to the catalogue of which I feel quite sure I shall be able to add 

 some new proofs in the proper place. If I could establish the fact by positive proof, 

 I should claim a great deal of applause from the world, and should, no doubt, obtain 

 it; but, like everything relating to the origin and early history of these unchronicled 

 people, I believe this question is one that will never be settled, but will remain open 

 for the opinions of the world, which will be variously given, and that upon circum- 

 stantial evidence alone. 



THEORY OP CONTINENTAL ORIGIN OF THE INDIAN. ABORIGINAL IMMIGRATION. 



I am compelled to believe that the continent of America, and each of the other con- 

 tinents, have had their aboriginal stocks, peculiar in color and in character, and that 

 each of these native stocks has undergone repeated mutations (at periods of which 

 history has kept no records) by erratic colonies from abroad, that have been ingrafted 

 upon them, mingling with them, and materially affecting their original character. 

 By this process I believe that the North American Indians, even where we find them 

 in their wildest condition, are several degrees removed from their original character, 

 and that one of their principal alloys has been a part of those dispersed people, who 

 have mingled their blood and their customs with them, and even in their new dis- 

 guise seem destined to be followed up with oppression and endless persecution. 



INDICATIONS THAT THEY ARE OF JEWISH BLOOD. 



The first and most striking fact amongst the North American Indians that refers us 

 to the Jews is that of their worshipping in all parts the Great Spirit, or Jehovah, as 

 the Hebrews were ordered to do by divine precept, instead of a plurality of gods, as 

 ancient pagans and heathens did, and their idols of their own formation. The North 

 American Indians are nowhere idolaters ; they appeal at once to the Great Spirit, and 

 know of no mediator, either personal or symbolical. 



The Indian tribes are everywhere divided into bands, with chiefs, symbols, badges, 

 &o., and many of their modes of worship I have found exceedingly like those of the 

 Mosaic institution. The Jews had their sanctum sanctorums, and so may it be said 

 the Indians have in their council or medicine houses, which are always held as sacred 

 places. As the Jews had, they have their high priests and their prophets. Amongst 

 the Indians, as amongst the ancient Hebrews, the women are not allowed to worship 

 with the men, and in all cases also they eat separately. The Indians everywhere, 

 like the Jews, believe that they are the favorite people of the Great Spirit, and they 

 are certainly, like those ancient people, persecuted, as every man's hand seems raised 

 against them, and they, like the Jews, destined to be dispersed over the world, and 

 seemingly scourged by the Almighty and despised of man. 



MARRIAGE. 



In their marriages, the Indians, as did the ancient Jews, uniformly buy their wives 

 by giving presents, and in many tribes very closely resemble them in other forms 

 and ceremonies of their marriages. ■ 



