Connecticut western news., 1872-02-09
The American Indian.

Gen. Custer in his notes on the plains, has the following interesting sketch of the Indian
 If the character of the Indian is envel- oped in mystery, how much more so is his origin. From his earliest history to the present time learned men have striven to unravel this mystery, and to trace the gepealogy of the red man to its original source. But in spite of all study and the deepest research capable of being brought to bear on this subject, it is to- day surrounded by darkness almost as deep and impenetrable as that which en- folded it centuries ago. Various wri- ters of ability have attempted to prove that the Indians came from eastern Asia others trace them to Africa, others to Phenicia, while another believes them to be autochtbones. In favor of each of these beliefs strong circumstantial evil dence can be produced. By closely studying the customs, costumes, faith and religious traditions of the various tribes, striking homogeneity is seen to exist. At the same time and from the same sources we are enabled to discover satisfactory resemblances between certain superstitions and religious rights prac- ticed among the Indian tribes and those which prevailed one time among the an- cient, Persians, the Hebrews and the Chaldeans. They who adhere to the be- lief of disparity of origin may readily ad, duce arguments in refutation of an oppo- site theory. The apparent similarity found to exist in the customs, dress, and religious rites of different tribes may be |! partially accounted for by their long in tercourse under like circumstances, the effect of which would necessarily be an assimilation in beliefs and usages to a greater or less degree. The preponder- ance of facts inclines strongly in favor ot that theory which does ascribe unity of origin to the Indian tribes. Passing down the Mississippi to Mexico, and from Mexico to Peru, there existed an unbroken chain of tribes, which, ,eitherin a peaceful or warlike manner, maintained connection and kept up an intercourse with each other. In various ways proofs have been discovered that at one time the most northern tribes must have held intercourse with the civilized nations ot Peru and Mexico. These evidences must have been seized upon by certain savants ] to support the theory that the Indian tribes of North America are descend. ants of the Atzecs and other kindred na- tions of the South-arriving at this con clusion from the fact of an apparant sim ilarity in history, psychology, traditions and customs. But by studying the mi grations and tendencies of ancient na. tions, and making allowance for such notifications as climatic influences, in termarriage, contact with civilization, and an altered mode Of living would ne cessarily produce upon any branch ot the human race-remembering too, thai in the vast majority of cases relating tc our subject we must be guided by tra dition rather than history-it is not diff cult to establish a strong typical likeness between the tribes of American Indians and some of the nations of most remote antiquity. When or in what ex act manner they first reached this conti nent is problem difficult of solution This theory necessarily involves the admission of emigration to thi continent centuries before the landing o Columbus. Upon this point there i much that must be inferred, and not z little susceptible of strong proof.