2 



time say that their ancestors came from the north, 

 and at another time, from the west. 



It is a general opinion that America was settled 

 from the north-eastern part of Asia, from the sup- 

 posed easy communication between them, in conse- 

 sequence of the vicinity of these countries. But the 

 opinion entertained by the Chilians, that their coun- 

 try was peopled from the west, is not so extravagant 

 as at first sight it may appear. The discoveries of 

 the English navigators in the South Sea have ascer- 

 tained that between America and the southern point 

 of Asia there is a chain of innumerable islands, the 

 probable remains of some vast tract of land which, 

 in that quarter, once united the two continents, and 

 , rendered the communication between Asia and the 

 opposite shore of America easy. From whence it is 

 very possible that, while North America has been 

 peopled from the north-west, the south has received 

 its inhabitants from the southern parts of Asia, the 

 natives of this part of the new world being of a mild 

 character, much resembling that of the southern 

 Asiatics, and little tinctured with the ferocity of the 

 Tartars. Like the languages of the Oriental In- 

 dians, theirs is also harmonious, and abounds in 

 vomtIs. The influence of climate may undoubtedly 

 aíFect language so far as to modify it, but can never 

 produce a complete change in its primitive struc- 

 ture. 



The Chilians call their first progenitors Pegni 

 Epatun, which signifies the brothers Epatun^ but 

 of these patriarchs nothing but the name is known. 



