Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-12-19
From the Albany Daily Advertiser.
The origin of the Indians.

We are much gratifed to learn, from
the following article, that the source from
whence the original inhabitants OF this
country were derived, has at length been
discovered. Or. MitchilI, who, hrst orr
last, hunts up every thing in the arts and
sciences, has found out the very nest
where the first brood was Matched. he
seems 20 think that they are made up Of
| almost az many sorts Of people, as there
were different kinds of animals in the
AK. Laplanders, Norwegians, Fins,
WeIshmen, &c. yc. form the lngre'
d;ents Of which Indians and Squaws
we're made. How the discovery has Seeu
made, we pretend not to know. In the
fimnroyed state OF chemical science, 1t
NAV have been the fact, that by a careful
Fanalysis, and decomposition, the original
DRUGS have been detected. Whether
| the learned Doctor has taken one OF the
natives to pieces to see how ne was maze
we have not been informed.
/ Another important fact is disclosed ia
this article. $ The forts and other anti
quities at Onondago," are found to be OF
Danish character Thisidea was sus-
gested to Doct. Mitchell by MIR. Clinton
and the Doct. says {" in the twinkiing OF
an eye he was penetrated by the business
Of the remark. An additional window OF
light was opened to him" we should
like to Know whether the Dr;t. ever wa,
furnished with a window of darkness
Had Mfr. Clinton suggested t, the Or.
that he suspected the onondago forts
were of Hottentot origin, we have not a
doub. he would have been penetrated
quite as suddenly, as he was on the other
suggestion.
There is one mystery at Onondago,
which yet remains unexplairea, and e! 70
which we hope the learned Professor will
as early as possible turn his attention,
and that is. the origin ofthe salt, which is
so abandantIy found in that region
If he has room ia his scientific edtice Tor
another g window of light" we respect,
fully suggest to him for consideration
and investigation, whether ii is not pro-
bable that some Of the wandering. tribes
who first peopled that part of the country,
brought over Lots wife with them, and
planted her down there for public use.
and in That way laid the foundation of
that valuable supply Of SO important e
necessary of life ? Many people have
supposed that the Indians were derived
from the Hebrews. There is certainly a
strong resemblance in the language and
customs of some OF the tribes to those OF
that people. Now, if among the varieties
of mixture In the Aberigines, there, is 10
fact, portion OF Hebrew, as they always
were a money making race, what is more
lprobable than that they took up the old
lady from the neighbourhood OF the Dead
Sea, where we are told in the Apocrypha
she stood long time after her transfer
nation, and brought her over here for the
purpose of making speculation. The
idea is only suggested-ths Doct. can
make what use of it he pleases. 1t has
at least about as plausible foundation
as the story OF Madce and the Danes.
All this may be considered correct
as far as the 1artarS and Malays are
concerned. But there is another part Of
the American population which deserves
to be particularly considered, | mean
the emigrants from Lapland, Norway,
and finland. who, before the tenth CEN
fury, settled themselves in Greenland,
and passed ever to Labrador. It's Ie-
corded that these adventures settled
themselves in country which they cal.
led Vinlaud. This was probably a new
settlement, so called in honor OF Finland
the region whence the Adventures came.
Or if it was a land Of Vines, the proof Is
the stronger Of their southern encamp-
ment.
Our learned regent, Mr.. De Witt
Clinton who has out done Governor Col
den, by writing the most full and able
history of the lroquois, Or Five nations OF
INew-Tork, mentioned to me In a late
conversation, his belief that part OF the
old forts and ether antiquities at Ononda-
90 and The adjacent territory, were Of
Danish character. IN the twinkiing Of an
eve, was penetrated by the business 81
his remark. An additional window of
light was suddenly opened to me. l told
him in az instant how / could follow,
with the Rev. pastor Van Troll, the Eu-
ropean enigrsats, during the horrible
icommotious Of the ninth and tenth cen
turtles, to Iceland. The Rev. MIR.
Grant, had informed, me, in his impor-
tant book, how they went to Greenland.
i thought could trace the people of
Scandinavia, to the banks of the st. Law
7 ,,,..,ocoJ NV Criondc had seen