New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-06-11
NEW PUBLICATIONS

N AMfRiCX 81 p q SqUiER $40. p' u.s.
George p Putnam H.,
The questions discussed in this volume
We are constrained 70 bcieve, have selloiii Do r.1
scented IN A correct point Of we"' Dy mt NV
inent writers OF me subject. I2iai} '"D'0
a greater apparent solciiu-c 20 os'-''i''
-. -, IN ascertain the precise condition of
t. Nor has he most probable clue 10 me 'h?".
- n undispateI phenomena been generally i'i-
,~,,e9 Resemblance n language. religious cefe-
&c social customs. domestic institutions ancient
.aon,oents. that have been found 20 exist between
,h native tribes Of this country and the older niaD
tan,s the Eastern hemisphcrcs, have been assumed
- nroofs Of identity Of origin. Hereditary descent
has been pfedicaed evidence that turns ont 70 Dc
nurely arbitrary ard fsncful The simple principle
that the nature OF man, under similar circumstances
Of development, Will exhibit similar manifestations
has not occupied the position to which II Is ehli'eu
BY IFS frui,,olness and importance
We only do ,ustice 10 the author Of the present
work when We say that he enters upon the nyesti-
cations 10 which It is devoted with rare freedom
from theoretical prejudices, and spirt OF genuine
historical research He endeavOrs 20 show the lden-
iity Of some of the primitive religious conceptions OF
the Old and New Worlds, and the resemblance otthe
symbolic systems in which they are embodied. Bu'
he evidently has 10 wish 70 make oui case IN aVof
of any prevalent hypothesis Indeed ne expressly
declares that the inference from the marked fesem-
blsnces in question to an original conneXon cannot
satisfy philosophical mind, however strictly IN ac-
cordance with popular preudices. On the contrary
we are bound 20 inquire how fdr the PRIMITIVE con-
sttuton of humanity, under similar conditions VIII
not necessarily impress the same characteristics on
national religions. institutions and monuments Nor
can the decisions Of former scholars be taken as con-
elusive IN this inquiry. We have means OF compar-
ison nj this time which have not been known unlh
within a recent period. The progress Of maritime
discoveries the researches Of travellers into the nte
rior Of countries hitherto little known, or unknown,
and the new acquisitions Of natural science, furnish
the etimoloqisi with data for this inquiry which en-
able him TO meet the question without reference to
any foregone conclusions.
In tins spirit Mr. squicr has presented TO the pub
lie the results of ms personal observations ma singu
larly curious field Of research We accept them as
valuable materials for the eucidalion Of truth Ihey
are not only. in a high degree, instructive but thcy
are brought forward with 30 much freshness and VI
vacty. and illustrated with such effective silil'
that they form a very agreeable narrative even to
those who arc merely IN quest of mental entertain
ment We would gladly follow the author through
the whole course OF ms attractive Investigations but
arc obliged to limit ourselves 20 statement Of only
one or two Of ms most important points.
The first leading idea of the volume IS the recognl-
ton Of the reciprocal principles OF Nature. designa-
ted as active and passive. male and female, and often
under the symbols of the Sun and Moon, or the sun
and the Earth IN the neurological systems oAmcrlca
This is shown by copious induction of facts, which
frequently present startling analogy with the sym
bolc representations of the East These principles,
for instance were designated father and mother.
appearing AS such in almost every primitive mythol-
ogy in Egypt Osiris and Isis IN llndusian as silva
and Bhayani. and as Tezcathpoca and Cluacohuat
IN Mexico. They are presented both under terres-
trial and celestial aspects, divines or as human
beings. The primitive nations usually trace their
origin TO a mysterious pair. Great Father, who IS
universally represented as the son OF the sun, and
ms wife, the Great Mother who is supposed TO have
a relationship to the Moon or the Earth Similar
ideas are found IN the American mythology which
ascrlbes the character OF Father To the sun, and
claims the descent Of the nation from that lumnary
The lncas Of Peru and the Pharaohs OF Egypt gloued
equally IN the title Of Son Of the sun. The same
idea prevailed among the ancient Mcxcans, who
designated The principal god and goddess OF Their my
ihoogy by names equivalent TO Celestial Father and
Divine Mother
monuments IN Mexico and Central America and the
most ancient nations of the Old World. The Bud
hist temples Of Southern India, and Of the islands OF
the Indian Archipelago correspond with remarkable
exactness with those which have been discovered IN
Central America They are usually built on terra
ces many of which are of great height and extent.
These terraces are faced with brick or stone, and
assembled by flights of steps. They are crowned by
structures almos, pyramital The interiors are mar
row and dark the walls are plaStercd and often
beautifully scuptured and painted with figures of the
divinity TO which the edi6ce rs devoted, and with
representations of battles and scenes from common
lfe,-lhus showing great analogy With the Central
American temples The same - true of the ancient
edi6ces which abound in the island Of Java. The
facts IN support OF tins resemblance are presented IN
profuSlon by Mr. SQuiCr, who discusses them With
true philosophical impartlahty. He evidently con
sldCrs them insufficient al present for the establish
ment of a comprehensive theory though the lCaus
ngs Of has mind may be inferred from the compact
summary with which he concludes ms third chapter.
The condolences Of tins KIND extending to the
ornaments of the Indian and Central American tenn
pies, monSlrOuS heads and Symbohcal figures, might
be greatly multiplied. But probably, after all, the
uneQuiVOcal common evidence OF the worship OF the
Reciprocal Principles IS the most interesting fact
which comparison Of the monuments OF the two
countries has vet disclosed. AhSiracty as We have
already seen, thus worship IN America can hardly be
dcrNailVe certainly Is not necessarily 50 for how
naturally, IN the mind OF the primitive man, must the
apparent cause OF reproduction associate itself With
his ideas Of creation and With the sun, the obvl-
vivlher of the physical world, become the com
mon symbol OF the supreme creative power, whose
existence Is everywhere manifested sui, II cannot
be denied that in conjunction with other condolences
IN religion. institutions, and ART, the prevalence OF
this worship tends 10 support the hypothesis OF con
nectlon between the Old and New Worlds, which II
has long been the ann Of speculative minds 10 eStal
hsh. But 4 We accept tins hypothesis, how are we
10 determine whether The impression has been de
rNcd nom Asia ON America-Or, a. certain facts
would imply, irom America ON ASIA 30 far a. ma
tural science rejects any hight on the question, Il
seems 10 favor the latter alternative
The Investigations IN which Mr. SQuer engages,
with regard to the prevalence Of serpent worship
the mythologies Of both The Old and the New World,