288 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



I have not examined authorities, to ascertain : whether the passage 

 across Behring Straits, is practicable for a people in the purely hunter 

 state. But in view of the large portion of Northwest America in con- 

 tact witli maritime tribes, these tribes, have appeared to me the most 

 probable source of the inland population. 



It should be observed, that there are two other portions of America, 

 that afford room for the developement of a maritime population : the 

 coral-bound West Indies, and the border Magellanic Archipelago. 

 The latter, is a counterpart to the region we have been considering; 

 and its remote geographical position, seems to imply an independent 

 rise of navigation ; together with an inverse order of descent, in ttie 

 derivation of maritime from iidand tribes. 



Men of a second physical race, have aboriginally found their way 

 to the western coast of America; and by the open sea: which latter 

 circumstance, will be found to have several important bearings. 



The Polynesian Groups, are everywhere separated from South 

 America by a vast expanse of ocean ; where rough waves, and perpe- 

 tually adverse winds and currents, oppose access from the west. In 

 attempting from any part of Polynesia to reach America, a canoe 

 would naturally and almost necessarily be conveyed to the northern 

 extreme of California; and this, is the precise limit where the second 

 physical race of men makes its appearance. So well understood is 

 this course of navigation ; that San Francisco, I am informed, is com- 

 monly regarded in Mexico as " being on the route to Manila." 



Again, the northern extreme of California, is as favourably situ- 

 ated for receiving a direct arrival from Japan. At the present day, 

 owing to a change in national policy, Japanese vessels are only by 

 accident found at large. But within a few years, one has been fallen 

 in with by a whale-ship in the North Pacific ; another, has been 

 wrecked on the Sandwich Islands ; and a case more in point, a 

 third, has been drifted to the American coast near the mouth of the 

 Columbia River. 



b. The Main Pacijic. 



Of the aboriginal vessels of the Pacific, two kinds only are adapted 

 for long sea- voyages; those of Japan just mentioned, and the large 

 double canoes of the Society and Tonga Groups. In times anterior 



