Original.
ABORIGINALS;

ABORIGINALS.

OR, THEORY OF THE FIRST INHABITANTS OF AMERICA.

BY GEO. WATERMAN, JR.

"How strange does it appear," says the learned De Tocqueville, "that nations have existed and afterwards so completely disappeared from the earth, that the memory of their very names is effaced; their languages are lost; their glory is vanished like a sound without an echo; but perhaps there is not one which has not left|| behind a tomb in memory of its passage. The most durable monument of human labor is that which recalls the wretchedness and nothingness of man."

The truth of the above remarks is perhaps nowhere exhibited with greater vividness than in the history of those who originally inhabited the American continent. That this country was occupied by a race of refined and cultivated men, anterior to its possession by the Indians, appears very evident; but who they were, no man knoweth. Even tradition, with her thousand tongues, is silent on the subject. They have existed, and passed away! The archives of heaven alone contain their history; while their exit from earth furnishes a melancholy commentary upon the stability of all things terrestrial.

Yet, while we know nothing of their history, we are firmly assured of their intelligence and refinement. For in the same way as the works of design with which we are surrounded establish the existence of some intelligent designer; so do the ancient remains which are found throughout the entire length of our countrymany of which manifest superior wisdom in their construction and adaptation to the end for which they were evidently intended—prove with equal certainty the refinement and cultivation of those who constructed them. That these were not the Indians, so called, is evident from various circumstances, some of which will be developed hereafter.

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were the Toltecans-a nation, which, in point of intellectual attainment, might well compare with many of more modern times. Of their advancement in science we may be enabled to form some idea from the fact, which is well authenticated by their own records, that more than one hundred years before the Christian era, they had discovered a difference of six hours between the civil and solar year, which led to the introduction of inter-callary days; indicating an extent of astronomical knowledge which the ancient Egyptians, with all their renown for mathematical science, never attained. We are also informed, upon the same testimony, that even at an earlier period, they calculated with great accuracy the times and circumstances of eclipses, both of the sun and moon!

This Toltecan nation trace their ancestors to the northern parts of America-to a country called Huehuetlapallan-the situation of which is now unknown. It is a circumstance deserving our attention, that all these southern tribes trace their ancestry to the same northern regions. We have the strongest proof in confirmation of this idea of a northern emigration, in the various tumuli and remains of ancient fortifications, which are to be found throughout our country. These all agree, in their general features, with one another, and with those still to be seen in many parts of Mexico; and which, from their great similarity, indicate a common origin. But if we had not such corroborating testimony, we might, reasoning from analogy, infer that such would be the fact. The progress of all nations has been southward! The Mongolian Tartars of Asia, and the Goths of Europe, are examples of this truth.

Admitting, then, that the migrations of all these different nations were from the north, we have a clue by which to form some reasonable conjecture concerning the authors of the various antiquities with which we are surrounded. If we follow these tumuli we shall at length arrive so far north as to make it probable that they might have come from Asia, having crossed the ocean in the neighborhood of Behring's Straits. Admitting this to be possible, where can we find among the northern nations of Asia, any people who could compare with these in point of intellectual advancement? We do not know any that have ever existed there who have made any pretensions to a cultivation of the sciences; and with our present knowledge, we need not seek there for their origin.

Most fortunately, however, for our present inquiry, we may avail ourselves of the researches of one, who has brought all the strength of a highly cultivated and philosophical mind to the investigation of a kindred subject, without, perhaps, the least idea of its bearings upon the inquiry which we have instituted.

When the Spaniards first landed on the American shores, they found some parts of the country in the possession of a people, equaling in many respects the most refined of the old world. These occupied only a very small part of the entire continent; and had not cupidity tempted to acquaintance and conquest, even these might have remained unknown and uncared for by the rest of mankind. The ancient Mexicans were a refined and civilized people. They had their historians and their annals; and from these, and corroborating testimony of various kinds, we may learn their history. These annals contain their history from the time of their removal from the northern part of the Gulf of California in 1160, until the Spanish conquest. "If you see," says M. Bailly, in his inquiry into the It seems that the whole vale of Mexico, which was then origin of the sciences and people of Asia—“if you see called Anahuac, had been inhabited, before their arrival, the house of a peasant composed of the rudest mateby various tribes or nations, "some of whom were re-rials, but here and there interspersed with fragments of fined and civilized, and others were barbarians, having sculptured stones, or pieces of elegant columns, you no fixed residence, nor paying obedience to any sover- must of necessity conclude that these fragments are the eign." Among the former class, the most remarkable remains of a palace, or elegant edifice constructed by

an ancient architect of much greater skill and abilities || conformity in a true doctrine is not a convincing proof than the builder of that cottage." This principle is of a mutual understanding or concert; but a conformity the foundation of a most beautiful specimen of philo- in a false doctrine amounts to something very near such sophic ingenuity in accounting for the great similarity a proof." which, in many points, is found to exist between the people of Asia. A very brief outline of his theory, together with some of the facts by which it is sustained, as they stand closely connected with our present inves-carth as given by Ptolemy at 180,000 stadia, by Postigation, are here presented:

Bailly has proved, in his work on Astronomy, that all the long measures of the ancients had a common origin. He has shown that the circumference of the

sidonius at 240,000, by Cleomedes at 300,000, by "China," says Tytler, "exhibits the traces of a per- Aristotle at 400,000 stadia, and by a Persian author at fection in the sciences to which the present Chinese, 8,000 parasangs, is precisely the same measurementand their ancestors for many ages, have been most sig- the unit of measure only differing in its length, as given nally inferior. They are possessed of astronomical in- by these different authors. He has also shown that the struments which they cannot use, and the use of which long measures of the Greeks, the Romans, the Perthey have no desire to be taught. Science, we find sians, the Egyptians, and the Indians, have all a deteramong the modern nations, is progressive-the present mined relation to each other—that they all consist of a age avails itself of the lights of the past. In China, small measure repeated a certain number of times. all science is stationary, and ever has been so. If Cap- And this original measure he shows to be the grand tain Cook had left a quadrant and telescope at Ota-cubit preserved upon the Nilometor at Cairo! heite, the inhabitants of that island would at present From these facts, and many others which we cannot know as much of the use of these instruments as the here mention, Bailly concludes that all these different Chinese do, who have been astronomers for two thous-nations must have had a common origin; that some and years." great and highly enlightened nation must have existed, Such being the fact, it is very probable that they de- whose history is now entirely unknown, from whom rived the foundation of all their astronomical knowl- || all these nations have derived their common knowledge. edge from some other source. What could be that Having made such a conjecture, the next thing was to source? We know of no nation with whom the Chi- assign them a residence. This he has fixed in Siberia, nese held any intercourse, who were capable of impart-about latitude 49° or 50°. Some of the reasons which ing such information to them. led him to select this are the following: The observations of the rising of the stars, as collected by Ptolemy, must have been made in a region of country where the longest days consist of sixteen hours. This corresponds to latitude 49° or 50°. But no nation of Europe, at the early period when this nation must have existed, had made any proficiency whatever in astronomical observations.

The ancient Chaldeans, who conquered Babylon, were a refined and scientific people. They proceeded so far in the science of astronomy as to ascertain the revolutions of the comets-a fact unknown in modern science-until re-discovered by Tycho Brahe, the celebrated Danish astronomer, a little more than two hundred and fifty years ago. These were probably the remains of a most ancient and enlightened nation.

The Brahmins of India hold some of the sublimest truths of revealed religion; such as the unity of the Deity and the immortality of the soul. But connected with these are some of the grossest superstitions that have ever enslaved the human mind. The former they must have received from some learned instructors; while the latter were the fictions of their own unassisted imaginations.

The Zendavesta, the sacred book of the Persians, says that the longest day of summer is double that of the shortest day of winter. But this is not true of Persia, and is only true of those countries situated in about the 50° of latitude.

The measure of the circumference of the earth as given by Aristotle and others, and, as mentioned above, corresponds exactly with that of the same latitude. It is reasonable to suppose that those who undertook to obtain so exact a measurement, would have done so in their own country.

Among the sciences of the ancient nations, we find many striking coincidences. The Egyptians, Chaldeans, Indians, Persians, and Chinese, all place their Such are a few of the reasons assigned by M. Bailly temples exactly east and west, fronting west. They all for locating this unknown nation in that region. And divided their time into cycles of sixty years; but as we are naturally led to inquire whether there are any this number was entirely arbitrary, it is not a little remains in this location indicating its ancient occupanstrange that they all should happen to adopt the cy by such a people; for the absence of every thing of same! A no less striking coincidence is observable in this kind would be almost sufficient of itself to lead to many points of their systems of religion. "The strong-a rejection of the hypothesis, at least as far as situation est resemblance, and that indeed which constitutes the is concerned. While the existence of any evidence of point of union of all these different religions, is, that this kind would go far to establish the probability of they are all founded on one very profound, though erro- its truth. neous doctrine, of the two principles, an universal soul M. Pallas, in the fifth volume of his travels in Sibepervading all nature, and inert matter, upon which that ria, gives a very interesting account of several discovFoul exerts its influence. Bailly concludes justly, "Aeries, near the town of Krasnoiarsk, on the Janeseia, in

about 56° of latitude, which indicate the occupancy of || Mongolian Tartars of Northern Asia, are members of that country in very remote ages, by a people of refine- the same family. Some of these reasons may be given ment and cultivation. Ancient mines have been dis- at some future time. We know, however, the wandercovered in that region which have been wrought, but ing, stern, and courageous character of the red man of of which no tradition now exists. The instruments our forests; and we know also the roving, fierce, and used in mining have been found, which, by their form warlike dispositions of the Tartars. Their restless disand material, indicate a very high antiquity. These position and desire of conquest led a part of them west consist, in part, of huge hammers made of stone, in- from their homes into the north of Europe; and the struments like pick-axes, and wedges made of copper. same spirit afterwards caused these to overrun almost Farther to the west from Krasnoiarsk, and in about the the whole of that continent. Known under the names same latitude, are many ancient burying-places, in of Goths and Vandals, they subdued every thing before which have been found knives, daggers, and points of them, and finally became incorporated with most of the arrows, all made of copper; also, ornaments made of European nations. The high antiquity of this people copper and gold, "some of which are adorned and em- has never been questioned; and their country was sitbossed with various figures of elks, stags, reindeer, and uated immediately south of that occupied by M. Bailother animals, all of the most exquisite workmanship." ly's hypothetical nation. If, therefore, the desire of In proof of the high antiquity of these mines, M. conquest should lead them to attack these, as we know Pallas states that so long time had elapsed since they it did the Chinese, some centuries before the Christian were wrought, that the props which sustained them era, there would be no possibility for the attacked, if have become petrified, and that some of them actually defeated, to escape south without passing through the contain specimens of copper and gold, formed by the country of the enemy. Their only resource would be hand of nature since these were erected! to submit to their savage conquerors, or remove farther north or west. And we know that the custom was very early adopted by the nations of antiquity, of re

If we admit the probability of this whole theory-a theory sustained by such an amount of apparent evidence, in the absence of every thing whatever of a con-moving from their native country rather than submit to flicting character-we think the greatest difficulties in the dictation of foreign conquerors. Let it not be supascertaining the origin of the "pristine inhabitants" posed that even an enlightened and polished nation as of this country, are surmounted. For many striking these must have been, could with certainty resist the coincidences, between the Mexicans and other nations fierceness and numbers of an invading army like the of this country, and those of the other hemisphere, can Tartars. We know that such was not the case in their then be easily explained. European invasion.

The author of "An Inquiry into the Antiquities of Here, then, might have been the cause of the extirAmerica❞—a gentleman of our own city-in endeav-pation of this original people. Having been vanquish

oring to ascertain from what part of the world the early inhabitants of this country have derived their origin, traces them north to Behring's Straits, and thence south through Syria to Egypt, having established the practicability of a passage of the Straits. But Egypt, even the most northern part, is thirty-four degrees south of Behring's Straits; and the city of Mexico twelve degrees south of the northern boundary of Egypt! It seems very improbable that any people from so southern a clime could have gone so far north as he supposes these must have done, and then so far again south as the vale of Mexico. Here, however, we have a much easier solution of this great problem by tracing their ancestors to this northern nation of Asia. And the great similarity which this author has shown to exist between the ancient Mexicans and the Egyptians, is readily explained when we suppose both to be shoots from the same original stock.

ed by the Tartars, they were scattered over the face of the earth. Some, traveling into the different countries of Asia, carried their religion and knowledge with them, which in process of time became incorporated with that of the people among whom they settled. Others, in the form of colonies, wandered still farther north, and finally crossed over into this country. Being afterwards pursued by their inveterate enemy, they were compelled to erect fortifications for their mutual defense-the remains of which still exist, and constitute the antiquities of this country. The rigor of the climate, and the innate disposition of man to improve his condition, probably led them on step by step, and at different periods, to a more southern clime and fertile soil, until a part of this great and numerous family were finally found in the regions of Mexico, constituting the different tribes who inhabited its delightful vale.

Such seems to us the most probable manner in which this country was originally settled, and the easiest mode of accounting for the great diversity which has been found to exist between its early inhabitants. It now remains to point out a few of the striking coincidences which have been ascertained to exist between these

We find also in this country a race of men, differing in almost every respect from those we have been contemplating; a people, who, in all their intercourse with those less wild and barbarous, have never been removed one step from that wandering and savage life which has always characterized them. And there are many rea-southern tribes and the most polished of the old world; sons, drawn from similarity of language, manners, disposition, &c., which lead almost irresistibly to the conclusion, that the North American Indians and the

some of which it seems exceedingly difficult to account for, except upon some hypothesis similar to the one here presented.

In the mines and tombs of Krasnoiarsk, as before sta- || suppose them to have already made considerable proted, have been found different kinds of instruments, gress to have discovered their need. If, however, we such as knives, daggers, wedges, &c., made of copper, prefer the latter supposition, the question returns, to so hardened as to take the place of steel as used among what people were they indebted for those instruments, us. How this metal could be so hardened, is now en- and the knowledge of their use? The Chinese, accordtirely unknown to men of science. Yet we find, uponing to their own account, as we have seen, have been the testimony of respectable and veritable historians, astronomers for two thousand years, having possessed, that the Mexicans, Peruvians, and other southern na- | meanwhile, the instruments necessary for the cultivations, possessed the means of hardening copper to such a degree of perfection, that they were able to bestow upon it an edge equal to that of the best steel. It is a fact worthy of our especial attention, that copper wedges of a similar character to those found in Siberia have been discovered in Mexico; and quite recently also, near Springfield, in this state.

tion of that science; yet when the Portuguese missionaries went among them in 1670, their computation of time was so far wrong that the year consisted of thirteen, instead of twelve months! All the astronomical instruments, dials, &c., both of Pekin and Nankin, are calculated for 36° of latitude, which is not the latitude of either of these cities! From these facts it seems In Siberia have been found also ornaments of gold evident that the Chinese did not invent their instruand silver, of the most exquisite workmanship, and in-ments. Were they indebted to the Toltecans of Amerdicating a very high degree of refinement and correct ica for them, or did both derive them from a common taste on the part of those who executed them. And after the conquest of Mexico, as we are informed by Clavigero in his history of that country, specimens of castings and ornaments were sent to Europe, which were pronounced by European artists as "perfectly inimitable in execution and taste."

source? The latter seems probable. Who was this benefactor of the two nations? Was it Egypt? We have already stated what seems an insuperable objection" to the hypothesis of a northern communication between this country and the southern parts of North America. We must therefore conclude, either that there was some direct communication between Egypt and this new world other than the one above alluded to-or that the Chinese, who were scarcely acquainted with any of the uses of their instruments, supplied them with the knowledge of their use to this Toltecan nation-and consequently, that there was some direct communication between the Chinese and the Toltecans; or we must refer the whole to a common source. And where can we find a better than that described in the ingenious theory of Bailly?

In the fundamental principles of their religion, these southern nations resembled the ancient Persians more nearly, perhaps, than any other people; although in many respects we find a very great similarity between parts of their system and that of the Egyptians. But in no other respect do they resemble the latter so much as in the regulation and distribution of time. We know that the ancient Egyptians were the best astronomers of all the nations of antiquity-if we except perhaps the Chaldeans. They carried their observations farther, and deduced from the movements of the heavenly But further. Although there was a great similarity bodies a more perfect system for the regulation of time, existing between the Egyptians and Toltecans; yet than any other nation with whom we are acquainted: there were differences in those things in which they a system, the general features of which were adopted most resemble each other, which indicate that neither naby the Greeks and Romans unaltered until the days of tion could have derived its knowledge directly from the Julius Cæsar. By him it was so improved, by the in- other; for in their systems of chronology, the Egyptroduction of intercallary, as to make the civil and solar tians computed time by cycles of 60, the Toltecans by year correspond at the end of every four years. But cycles of 52 years. The Egyptians had 12 months of we are informed by Botturini, as quoted by Clavigero, 30 days each, while the Toltecans had 18 months of that the Toltecans as much as a century before the 20 days each; and either nation added five days at the Christian era, had discovered a difference of six hours close of every year to make the 365 days. Now if the between the civil and solar year, and had corrected it Toltecans derived their origin directly from Egypt, which by the introduction of intercallary days; not like the the coincidences in their respective systems of chronolRomans, by the addition of one day to every fourth ogy have been adduced to prove, we should infer that year, but by the addition of thirteen days (that being in the division of the year they would have harmontheir sacred number) at the close of every cycle of fifty-ized. But this objection weighs less, when we suppose two years! The calculations upon which this discov- both derived their systems from a common source. ery was based, together with those of eclipses, noticed before, imply a greater knowledge of the science of astronomy, than could have been obtained by any nation without the aid of appropriate instruments. But how could they have obtained such instruments? Did they invent them? or procure them from some other people? The former would indicate a very great amount of intellectual effort on their part; for if necessity be the mother of invention, as is generally the case, we must

Such is an outline of our view of this interesting question. Nothing has been adduced which will entirely satisfy the curious mind. Obscure as the subject is, there can only be a choice of theories. The above seems to have fewer difficulties, and to be more satisfactory in many points, than any other. Whether true or false, one thing is certain-those to whom it relates have passed away like a sound without an echo. Their only relics are the tombs which mark their departure!

Original.

HUMAN IMPROVEMENT.

HUMAN IMPROVEMENT. Man, it is said, is the creature of circumstances, and his advances in improvement depend very much on the tone given to his mind by the objects with which he is surrounded. In almost every period of the world's history we have presented to our view the picture of alternate advancement and decline; and past experience would almost lead us to despair of complete success, or the attainment of that perfection in human affairs so fondly desired.

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the liberal principles of commercial intercourse, the improvements which are made in the one are introduced into the other, harmony is fostered and promoted, and they mutually aid each other in all that will exalt, dignify and improve the species.

The art of printing, though it seems to be the production of a single effort, is of vast importance to society, and its merits as an indispensable auxiliary in the improvement of our race stand unrivaled. It promises more in the attainment of the object for which the philanthropist and Christian labors, than any thing merely human that has arrested the attention of the world. It cannot be denied that it is the result of general causes, inasmuch as such was the state of the world at that period, engaged in literature and the sciences, that, if it had not been discovered by the individual to whom it was ascribed, it, or something similar, would assuredly have followed, in the age in which it was first invented. The art of printing, as well as writing, is therefore entitled to be considered as a natural step in the history of man; and those who are sceptical about the improvement of society, merely in consequence of its past history, reason as unphilosophically as a "member of a savage tribe, who, deriving his own acquaintance with former times from oral tradition only, should affect to call into question the efficacy of written records, in accelerating the progress of knowledge and civilization." What may be the ultimate effects of this invention, cannot be told: whether through its medium modern genius will surpass ancient, or eclipse the glory of former days, is uncertain; yet it disseminates knowl

Though man may be very much under the influence of habit, he nevertheless often gives an impulse to those things, which, however the ultimate end may not be seen by him, will produce the most beneficial results; and were these efforts always directed by experience and education in a proper channel, we might look forHow mournful are the vicissitudes which history ex-ward to the speedy disinthrallment of society from vice hibits to us in the course of human events. On the and intemperance, and the universal diffusion of those one hand, the places which were once wild and uncul- blessings which flow from virtue, and the accomplishtivated, now present a scene of industry and enter- ment of the designs of an all-wise and beneficent Beprise; while, on the other, where genius flashed its ing. lightning and reared its works of art and science, attended by the busy hum of population, now are immersed in superstition, and forgotten amidst the ravages of despotism. After a career of civil, military and literary glory, the prospect has been changed at once; and the career of degeneracy has begun and run on till it could go no further, or, by some calamitous event, obliterated the memory of past improvement, and compelled mankind to retrace, step by step, the same path by which their forefathers had risen to greatness. The present condition of Greece is a melancholy illustration of the truth of this remark. And it would seem that, on a retrospective view of human affairs, man appears to be the mere sport of fortune-that he is doomed to run the alternate career of improvement and degeneracy, "and realize the beautiful but melancholy fable of Sisyphus, by an eternal renovation of hope and disappointment." Yet we are not solely to argue from the past, or govern our exertions exclusively by the aspects which society presents to the mind of the inquisitive inquirer; but are to be influenced by the circumstances now before us, and the probable effect they will have in accomplishing the most glorious results in the prosperity and felicity of our race. The variety of events which have happened in the world justify us in the hope, that society is now in such a state of improvement, that it is destined to run an uninterrupted course of progres-edge more widely, gives permanency to correct princision; and so different is community at present from ples, and powerfully tends to secure to individuals and what it was in antiquity, that all reasonings from its associated forms of society all that is good and valuaformer states would be unsatisfactory and inconclusive. ble, against those revolutions to which human affairs The late improvements which have been made in have hitherto been so subject. Opinionum enim commerce, the arts and the sciences, tend to animate|| commenta delet dies, naturæ judicia confirmat." It is us with hope-prompt to the exercise of liberal feelings, in consequence of the spreading influence of learning and the cultivation of those principles which enhance and correct principles, that the science of legislation is our individual happiness, and secure to community all better understood and more applicable to the advancing the blessings of civilized life. The facilities of com- state of society and the true interest of man; for inmerce, by means of steam power, tend to approximate stead of an aspirant, with a rabble at his heels, trampnations, and thus a ready and free intercourse removes ling upon and putting at defiance all law and principle, those prejudices which exist among distant communi- he is checked by the liberal sentiments of community, ties, by giving them a knowledge of each, and liberal- and compelled to keep pace with enlightened opinions. izing their views and feelings. Nations perceive that In the days of antiquity, eloquence was made the intheir own prosperity is not dependant alone on personal strument of unholy ambition; but now, it is the vehisecurity and advancement, but is intimately associated cle of just and comprehensive views of enlightened with the peace and prosperity of their neighbors. By policy, in that the efforts of those who devote themVol. I.--30