The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1833-02-16
WHOLE NO. s65.

nave stated. dence, tnougn ePeeyco"..
distinct, in all situations, and in every CON
dition, we perceive that the action Of ex-
,ernal causes is capable Of producing con-
siderable ra,isies in the charaQ&r, form,
and features, of the human race in differ
en-. portions Of the globe. M
1t is therefore unquestionable that the
whole human race are but varieties Of a
common species, and descended, most
probably, from one male and female it
then only rem aims to show in what man
ner the descendants Of this stock may
have reached America from the Eastern
continent, and VIII ether the observations
can be supported by arguments drawn from
the condition. OF the new. world.
1t is not unknown to'the merest tryo in
geography that the northeastern portion Of
Asia is separated from America by Beh-
rings Straits, which is known to be less
than forty miles across, and solidy frozen
ever during the seventies of winter.
Kalntschatka, the extreme point Of A
sia; situated between the fortieth and fiji:
teth degree of north latitude, is pevPled
by nations who are thoroughly accustom-
ed to endure all the ri igors OF this climate;
aud is provided with many animals equal
ly capable Of existing through its inclem-
encies.
'Under such circumstances we can sec
no difficulty in concludiDg,' says DIR. God
man, that from the eastern extremity of
Asia, botk men and animals have passed
to America, and subsequently been null
tiplied over the whole continent. In re-
regard to man, it is not necessary to IN
sist that he passed to the American con-
tfnent during winter, since the distance is
not too great for US to believe that even
the rudest navigators, when driven by
stress Of weather from their own coast,
could with little difficulty reach this con-
tinent; where they would be compelled td
remain by necessity, or induced by dis
position either to extend their acquaint-
ance with a strange land, or to seek for a
more agreeable place of abode" Or the
same result might have been attained, in a
much ttiote easy and pleasant manner, by
passing from one isle to another, in the
straits, (the Alcutian, until they reached
the continent at Algaska. In addition 10
this, II is considered as highly probable,
that the two continents, at some remote
period, were here continuous; so that the
only difficulty that could be urged against
the approach ofpopulation from the ex-
tremity Of Asia, is removed.-Now in sup
port of this position the following facts are
adduced.
I. The coppsr-colored natives Of A
merica, the most numerous ofthe aborig-.
ines, more nearly resemble the AsiatiG
Tartars, In colot and stature than any 9TH.
er people.
9. The land animals common to both
continents doubtless reached America by
the same route with the human race /;
but those peculiar to America WERE orig
inally placed on this soil, as no traces of
their existence are found in Asaia or else
, where. The first inference is drawn be-
cause the community Of species renders
: it necessary; the second is fair and nat
ural induction from the exclusive exist
ence ofcertain species in this country.
0 8. sThe custom Of scalping,' says
y Pennant, 'was barbatism in use with
t the Scythians, who carried about them al
d all times this savage mark Of triumph
i they cut circle round the neck, and strip
i ped Of the skin as they would that Of an
! OK
@ q. "A little image, found among the
Calmucs,of a Tartarian Diety mounted or
d horse, and sitting on human skin, with
Or scalps pendant from the breast, fully illus
Is trates the custom Of the Scythian progeu
he tors, as described by the Greek historian
IN This usage, as the Europeans know b.
ia horrid experience, is continued to this do,
J. in America
u 8. 'The Knmtschudales, even at tn
r time Of their discovery Lby the Russians
ne put their prisoners to death by the mos
T. lingering and circulating inventions |;
be practice in fall force to this day anon
20 the s9cf'ss;,aal Americans