Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-10-17

that, in their passage through the neck
OF land which II supposed connects The
two continents together, those Scythians
dragged with them some of the dwar6sh
nations OF northeastern America, whose
descendants are now found living within
the arctic circles and that these small
skeletons are the relics of the pigmy
race, whose posterity, by the genial
warmth of milder climate, and the
| plentiful diet which it affords, have re-
turned to the stature which their imme-
diate ancestors lost, by the migrations of
their ancestors into the iphospitable cli-
mates of the north which, chilling the
blood, diminishing the force of its circu-
lation, and rendering their supply of
food prcCarous and unwhoesome, in the
lapse OF long series Of ages reduced
their primitive bulk
If this be SO, the women, and the un-
grown children OF the first enigrants, al
though beyond the age of infancy, and
not yet arrived at maturity, might not
have been OF larger dimensions when
clothed with flesh than is indicated by
these skeletons.
Let us look for conch-shells on the
shores OF orth-eastern America, and
look there also for the stature of those
who inhabit the most northwardly re-
8lons OF these countries, and we shall
perceive whether this conjecture has the
countenance oil probability, and if rot
then let it be owned with candor that
many are the unsearchable ways of
Providence.
But, indeed, conjecture may be Of
tered, before We leave this sub ect, which,
TO some, may possibly seem worthy of
attention.-The Egyptians, in ancient
times, worshpped great number Of
animals, and, among others the IBIS, the
Hawk, the Cav, the Dog. In whatever
family cat died, every Individual ofthat
family cut off his or her eyebrows; but,
if dog died, the whole family shaved
their heads, and, IN fact, every part Of
their bodies. The cats, when dead, were
carried to sacred buildings and, after be-
ing sailed, were buried III the cry Bu-
hastes. OF the canine species, The le-
males were buried in consecrated chests,
which ceremony was also observed with
respect to the Johncunlen. Herod Eu.
65, 66, sc.
The Hindoos, says the Able Dubois,
pay horor and worship, less or more
solemn, % almost ever! ils ing creature,
whether quadruped, bird, or reptile.
He then gives long list ofthe worship
ped animals, beginning with the Ape,
and including the dog and other animals.
The Ape is the class Of animals which
receives the highest honors. The stri-
king resemblance which tie Hindoos te-
mark, between this animal and man, in
exterior appearance and physical reIa-
lions, was the first cause OF the great
reverence in which they held him.
ID Dubois, 2l6. The worship of The
great Ape Hanumen extends over all the
territory of India, and especially among
the followers of Vishnu. His idol is
every where seen in the temples and
other places frequented by the people.
And it is also frequently found in the
woods and under thick trees in desert
places. But particularly where the
Vishnuvitcs abound, the tayorite idol Of
Hammer is found almost every where.
The sacrifices offered to it usually con-
sist Of the simplest productions of ma
ture; and, in parts irequented by Apes,
devotees are often seen who give them
part of their food, and consider it a me-
ritorious deed.
The SOULS and other bones described
by Mr.. Lane may be the bones o. sacred
animals, buried by superstition not
dissimilar to that of the Hindoo and
Egyptian: and, being not more than 90
miles from the place where the three
faced image was found, both may have
been deposited by the same religious no.
tons. The conch-shell, left in the small
water vessel, indicates an intent to pro-
vide for the accommodation OF some ami
NAL who could use the conch for dipping
water out of the larger vessel. Should
this conjecture be found worthy of adop-
ton, the evidence of Hindoo ancestry
will have attained degree of strength
almost too stable to suffer resistance.
The animal, whether ape or monkey,
and the conch-shell, may have come
from the Gulf of Mexico, Cumana, or
the waters of the Oronoko and the adj
jacent countries, whittier it is probable
they came, from the old world, with the
superstition which deifed them. The
sedulous anxiety manifested for their
preservation the care taken, in their