POLYNESIANS AND ASIATICS. 119 
the chain which connects the old and the new 
worlds; and also between the Polynesians and the 
inhabitants of Mexico, and some parts of South 
America. The general cast of feature, and fre¬ 
quent shade of complexion—the practice of tatau- 
ing, which prevails among the Aleutians, and some 
of the tribes of America—the process of embalm¬ 
ing the dead bodies of their chiefs, and preserving 
them uninterred—the form and structure of their 
massy pyramidal stone temples and places of 
sepulture—the game of chess among the Arauca- 
nians—the word for God being tew or ten —the 
exposure of their children—their games—their 
mode of dressing the hair, ornamenting it with 
feathers—the numerous words in their language 
resembling those of Tahiti, &c.; their dress, espe¬ 
cially the poncho , and even the legend of the 
origin of the Incas, bear no small resemblance to 
that of Tii, who was also descended from the sun. 
The points of resemblance are not so many as 
in the Asiatic continent and islands; but that pro¬ 
bably arises from the circumstance of the great 
facilities furnished by the Hindoo records, and the 
absence of all original writings relating to the his¬ 
tory, mythology, manners, language, &e. of the 
aborigines of South America. Were we better 
acquainted with the history and institutions of 
the first inhabitants of the new world, more nume¬ 
rous points of resemblance would be discovered. 
Other coincidences, of a more dubious character, 
occur in the eastern, western, and intermediate or 
oceanic tribes; among which might be mentioned 
the account given by Sir John Mandeville. He is 
stated to have commenced his travels early in the 
fourteenth century. In a country near the river 
Indus, he met with the fountain of youth, the water 
