Atlantis Once More . 
3^4 
[June, 
immersion in water, and is not unfrequently washed ashore 
at places far distant from the lands of its growth. The 
mango, according to the most recent authorities, is a native 
of the Malay Archipelago, and has only been acclimatised 
in Continehtal India and in South America. One point we 
must here bring especially forward : it is said that the fruits 
which man enjoys are artificial products which have been 
slowly developed under the influence of cultivation. But the 
Malay Islands are remarkably rich in exquisite fruits, which 
are for the most part incapable of being acclimatised else- 
where. Might not this fadt be held to prove that there, in 
the “ Gardens of the Sun,” is the earliest home of civilisa- 
tion. It must be noted that Mr. Donnelly argues at some 
length, and with much force, against the supposition of a 
former land-connedtion between North America and North- 
eastern Asia, but on the possibility of animals and plants 
being introduced into South America across the Pacific he is 
silent. 
He is inclined to seek the origin of our domestic animals 
in Atlantis, and he affirms that no wild species has been 
tamed during the historical ages, i. e., the last 7000 years. 
We doubt whether much importance can attach to this ob- 
servation, even if correct. The number of animals eligible 
for domesticity is not unlimited. But we may well question 
whether Atlantis could possibly be either the original home 
of the elephant or the place where he was first tamed. 
Palaeontology teaches us that South-eastern Asia was the 
seat of the Elephantidae. All historical accounts agree that 
this animal was first used in war in India, and that its em- 
ployment spread gradually to Western Asia, North Africa, 
and Europe. The ass, in like manner, is due not to Atlantis, 
but in all probability to Africa, where certain closely allied 
forms exist in a wild state. The cat is also an African 
species, and her domestication has evidently spread into 
Europe not eastwards, but westwards. 
The question here arises, why, if the aboriginal civilisa- 
tions of America are of the same origin as those of the 
Eastern hemisphere, were the former devoid of the services 
of domestic animals ? The horse, ass, cow, sheep, goat, 
and hog were evidently unknown in America at the time of 
the first Spanish settlements. Now, if these creatures were 
first tamed in Atlantis, why did not that empire, with all its 
commerce, navigation, and enterprise, introduce them into 
its American colonies ? 
With the historical, mythological, and linguistic evidence 
accumulated by Mr. Donnelly we cannot deal in full. We 
