292 Journal of a Voyage through the 



to me by the native inhabitants of it. Such a change^ 

 therefore, must proceed from some predominating opera- 

 tion in the system of the globe which is beyond my con- 

 jecture, and, indeed, above my comprehension, and may, 

 probably, in the course of time, give to America the cli- 

 mate of Europe. It is well known, indeed, that the waters 

 are decreasing there, and that many lakes are draining and 

 filling up by the earth which is carried into them from the 

 higher lands by the rivers : and this may have some partial 

 effect. 



The climate on the West coast of America assimilates 

 much more to that of Europe in the same latitudes: I 

 think very little difference will be found, except such as 

 proceeds from the vicinity of high mountains covered with 

 snow. This is an additional proof that the difference in 

 the temperature of the air proceeds from the cause already 

 mentioned. 



Much has been said, and much more still remains to be 

 said, on the peopling of America. On this subject I shall 

 confine myself to one or two observations, and leave my 

 readers to draw their inferences from them. 



The progress of the inhabitants of the country imme- 

 diately under our observation, which is comprised within 

 the line of latitude 45. North, is as follows: that of the 

 Esquimaux, who possess the sea coast from the Atlantic 

 through Hudson's Straits and Bay, round to Mackenzie's 

 River (and I believe further) is known to be Westward : 

 they never quit the coast, and agree* in appearance, man- 

 ners, language, and habits, with the inhabitants of Green- 

 land. The different tribes whom I describe under the 

 name of Algonquins and Knisteneaux, but originally the 

 same people, were the inhabitants of the Atlantic coast, 

 and the banks of the river St. Laurence and adjacent coun- 

 tries : their progress is Westerly, and they are even found 

 West and North as far as Athabasca. On the contrary, 

 the Chepewyans, and the numerous tribes who speak their 

 language, occupy the whole space between the Kniste- 

 neaux country and that of the Esquimaux, stretching be- 

 hind the natives of the coast of the Pacific, to latitude 

 52. North, on the river Columbia. Their progress is 

 Easterly ; and, accordingly to their own traditions, they 

 came from Siberia ; agreeing in dress and manners with 

 the people now found upon the coast of Asia. 



