THE MONGOLIAN RACE. 



43 



YUCATAN. 



Some bass-reliefs from Palenque in Yucatan, now deposited in 

 Wasliington, contain a human profile : and it is eminently charac- 

 teristic of the Mongolian, and seems decisive as to the physical race 

 of the people who reared the remarkable ancient structures discovered 

 in that part of America. 



NORTHEAST AMERICA, 



The aboriginals of the United States have appeared to me in every 

 respect physically identical with their brethren west of the Rocky 

 Mountains. They have, however, a marked superiority of stature ; 

 and they do not in point of size, fall below Europeans. 



I have seen examples of the tribes of the Missouri and Upper Mis- 

 sissippi, in the delegations which from time to time, have visited 

 Washington: as, Menomenies, Winnebagoes, Sauks and Foxes, Sioux, 

 Pawnees, Otoes, Miamies and lowas. I have been interested in hear- 

 ing the Missouri drum aiid flute ; and have felt regret, that no one 

 sliould have turned his attention to the preservation of the music of 

 this fading people. I saw neither musical instruments, nor dancing, 

 among the Oregon tribes; nor anything like pottery; such as is used 

 by the aboriginals of our Southern States. 



I have also seen Crees, from the centre of the Continent, north of 

 the waters of the Missouri; where the same superiority of stature ap- 

 pears likewise to prevail. The Upsaroka, or Crows of the head- 

 waters of the Missouri and Yellowstone, are also to be ranked among 

 the Eastern tribes ; and judging from a portrait at Washington, they 

 belong to the Mongolian race. 



Iroquois formed part of the crew of the Hudson Bay Company's 

 steamboat at Nisqually; and I saw one of them employed in building 

 operations near the Fort. I once also met with a man of this tribe, 

 in western New York. The only Delaware I have ever seen, had 

 been brought up among Whites. To a resident of Philadelphia, it 

 was almost startling, to hear of this tribe in Oregon; joining the 

 Blackfeet in hostile incursions into that country. 



