Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-09-14
THE AMERICAN RACE.
The ound Builders-NoTth Pacific
Group-The Mexican Group-The
lter Isthmian Group.
Thy CHAs. II. CHASE
The Mound builders.

There has been prevalent opinion,
that there was prior race 70 the In
dian, who inhabited this continent and
left traces of their civilization in the
mounds which are found in Ohio, In
diana. Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan,
and all over the lake region and the
Mississippi valley. While they were
different people from those found in
these regions in historic times, yet It
seems probable, that these people were
the same as the ancient MeXicanS. who
at an early period extended Their sway
far northward, and ut later period
were driven out by the fierce Atlantic
tribes. At least. their civilization was
not superior TO that OF the MeNicans;
and the fact that the remains and
mounds are found almost continuously
south to the ruff, in Texas and on into
Mexico: and the further fact, that the
ancient Mexicans, the Toltecs, a race
which is now generally believed TO be
identical with the Nahuas al present
found in Mexico. and belonging TO the
Pacific group of the American race,
were also mound ui'ders, and the
skulls and other relics of these people
were similar 10 those found in the
mounds of the Mississippi valley, seem
sufficient to prove the identity ot
the two peoples. The Aztecs, who
were found in Mexico by the Span
iards. had conquered the land about
800 years before, and held control
of the country. though inferior IN civil
ization TO the Toltecs whom they con-
quered. The AZtecs. however, adopted
the civilization which they found, to
certain extent, as did the Cloths, and
other northern barbarians who swept
down on the Roman empire, that of
Rome. A. to the origin Of the Aztecs,
difference of opinion exists, but they
were probably another Of the Pacific or
Central American groups of the Ameri-
can race. Their supremacy IN Mexico
did not probably exceed 800 years,
while but little Of Mexican civilization
is attributable TO them. The earliest
certain date of the Toltecs, however,
goes back to $50 b. c. according to
Able Brasseur, and their migrations
undoubtedly began as early as 1000
B. c., or prior to the Trojan war far
Their back than we have authentic his
tory of any peoples, except the Egyp-
tians and Hebrews, perhaps. Indeed,
a theory which is as probable as any in
regard TO the American race is that
they originated from the same stock as
the Malays. passed by successive steps
from the islands of the Pacific TO Amer
lea at very early period-it may be
several thousand years before our era
and their isolation in the American
continent has fixed the traits of the
race. Certain it is, that the resem-
blances. both physical and mental, be-
tween Indian and Malay are striking.
The North Pacific Group
There is wide diversity of language
and physical and mental traits between
the tribes occupying the narrow strip
of country between the mountains and
the Pacific Ocean, and none of them
are wide in extent of territory covered.
These tribes are not Of particular inter-
est, except to a specialist, and we shall
leave them with a few passing remarks.
Many of the tribes are now extinct.
They subsisted by hunting and fishing,
and were also tillers of the soil. They
had many simple arts, such as carving,
basket making, stone cutting; and like
most of the Indian tribes, made canoes
of the trunks of trees. In Colorado.
New Mexico, Arizona and Southern
California they built lodges of stone on
the banks of canons, made bricks, and
from them houses with doors and win
dows, besides conducting extensive sys-
TENS of irrigation, by which their fields
were watered. They also made pottery
and clothing.
The Mexican Group.
The principal peoples of this group
have already been mentioned in con-
nection with the mound builders, the
Aztecs and Toltecs. Their tongue,
which is now identical, probably coal
esced at the time of the Aztec conquest.
is called the Nahuatl. The Aztecs
were Brachycephalic, or broad headed,
while the earlier Toltecs were do
lichocephlic, or with the heads long