Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-11-16

tons of the immediate Successors Of the Span
ish couquerors, and those gilmore recent travel
lers. including the scientific Humboldt and MS
unfortunate companion Bonpland Win the
majority Of these writer's, il has been favori'e
object TO show that the aborigines OF America
were derived from the Asiatic CONTINENT and
they have consequently ihsised'en numerous
points Of coincidence which may be traced be-
tween the inhabitants Of both, in thei: religious
obscryances, in their government, IN Their
modes Of computation, especially OF time, III
many OF their customs, and In various other
particulars. Some of these are remarkably
striking; and arc, moreover, such as could
have SC arcely originated in the southern hemls'
phere. But as resemblances occur IN other
parts Of America TO an extent equally remark
able as in Peru, it was necessary 10 attempt to
prove that Asiatics had penetrated into those
countries also. Hence il Is insisted on, that
Mexico was invaded by Monguls, who had
Quilted their original habititions in the sixth,
and had reached the table land in the 3th CEN
,ury, by successive migrations, and by the dis
placement Of preceding tribes. Evidences Of
these migrations is drawn from the traditions
Of the Mexicans, and from their emb,ematlc
writings, as given by purchase, which have been
of their wanderings, previously to their final
settlement, and Of their government, until the
arrival Of their Spanish conquerors The proofs
of the subjugatio of Bogota, Natchez and Ia
lomcco, advanc ed by Mr.. Ranking. resi- solely
on line similarity of the customs observed a
mong the native tribes TO those Of the nations
Of Eastern Asia, and on The occurrence Of bones
of Elephants in various situations. If 10 these
leading features il be added, that histories are
given Of the Incas Of Peru, and ofthe Emperors
of Mexico, until the Spanish invasion, cor
rect idea will be furnished Of The contents Of the
Historical Researches
Now, although we inclined 10 agree with
the generally received opinion, that the Abort
gines Of America were derived almost entirely
from the continent Of Asia, an opinion support
ed long since by Gro,ius and Hornius, and ad-
vocated in later days by the abe bistorian, Ro>
bertson. we can by no means believe that any
connexion has occurred at so recenta date as
that assigned by Mr.. Ranking. The peculiar
pnysiognomy, and especially the copper color
ed complexion which distinguished the native
tribes Of the northern and elevated portions Of
the New, from every race inhabiting the Old
World could only have been produced so extern
tensively by continued application Of causes
during almos, beyond conception. So striking.
ly distinct, indeed. is the genuine American,
thai the earlier invaders were prevailed on only
by the nfal!iblc authority Of Papal bull 10 re-
gard him as man In modern times, the e.
dict OF Rome has ceased 10 receive implicit We
neration; s many OF the continental uaturalis,s
nave ,entured 10 consider him as constituting
different species from the rest Of mankind. He
is enumerated as one Of The ten spec les Of man
described by Desmoulins, and as one Of the fif.
teen species into which the acumen Of Bory de
Saint Vincent has divided The human race
Viry. B!umenbach, De Lacepede, and others,
have also advanced similar opinions. II would
be interfering TOO deeply with our established
modes Of belief, to place full confidence in these
new views; but they are Of importance in the
Investigation, as tending 10 show that the cop
per colored American, if moi, as they would
almost assume, a distinct race from the com.
mencement; had al least been SO long set apart
from other men, as to have become endowed
with characters eminenliy distinguishing him
from his original brethren.
With the evidence of long isolation, de-
duced from the physical properties Of the A.
merican, that which is supplied to us by the
state of his Utilization a, the period of the
Spanish conquest perfectly comedies. The
very first advance Of man emerging from an alb.
attempt to secure a permanent supply Of rou
and thus to render himself in great
measure independent Of seasons, and Of chance
To cultivate the ground, and to domesticate
animals, would therefore be his employmenls
in the earliest ages Of society. Yet in both
these points the Americans were dcfcienr, the
former was only partially resor,ed to, while |
the latter was utterly unknown except among
the Pernvians. In lieu of the Hocks and herds |
which throughout all known time have sup
piled TO the inhabtant Of the Old World his !
food and clothing, and of the beasts of bur |
den by which his labours have ever been ale
vialed: only one animal reclsimed from savage !
life was found in the vast extent Of America, |
and this was mrt with in Peru alone The ,
lama, qaadruped resembling the camel. but
inferior in size and activity, was employed in !
the transportation of goods, its fleece was
manufactured into clothing, and its hide was !
used as leather. Beyond this single acquisi-
lion from the animal kingdom, the American