Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-09-28
THE AMERICAN RACE.
The South Atlantic Group-The South
Pacific Group-Conoluding Dedue-
tlOnS.

Caribbean sea, Cuba, Haiti, and the Lesser
Antilles Their language is smooth
and rich in vowel sounds, while that
spoken by the women is often different
from that spoken by the men. This is
probably to be accounted for by the
practice among them of capturing their
wives from other tribes. They are
usually we'll formed physically, but
lacking IN the development of architec-
ture, and having but little care for
or knowledge of agriculture.
The Arawaks occupied the portion of
country known now as Guiana, and
also some of the West Indian islands.
The extensive Amazon valley is pop
ulated by various tribes, whose atlini-
ties are obscure. Those near the coast
belong TO what has been termed the
Tupi-Guarani stock. Scattering tribes
also. of the same stock had migrated
westward to the foot of the Andes.
There is evidence tending to show that
that they displaced an earlier people of
a lower grade of culture. In frequent
contiguity with the Tupis are the
Tapucas. of whom the Botocudos of
eastern Brazil are the most prominent
tribe. They are of low grade Of Gull
ture. going suite naked, ignorant of
pottery. and making but poorly con-
structed canoes.
The tribes of the Pampas are also of
low development, and are in general
most miserable savages, with scarcely
any arts-going naked, though exposed
to damp and chilling climate. Their
huts are poorly constructed of the
branches OF trees or of weeds.
OF the south Pacific groups, the prin-
cipal tribes are the Chibchas and Qqui-
chuas. The former are also called
Muyscas. and are found near the Mag
dalena river, near the present site OF
Bogota They show considerable signs
of culture. They cultivate many
plants, are potters and goldsmiths, and
have knowledge of irrigation and dec
orative arts.
The most powerful. however, and
those having the highest degree of civil
ization were the Qquichuas OF Peru.
The Spaniards found here people with
a civilization nearly equal to that found
in Mexico. No American tribe sur
passed them in agriculture, and they
had many domesticated animals. Be-
sides the dog and fowl similar to the
goose, they had large tlocks OF lamas,
animals which they had for food and as
beasts of burden. They made cloth
of its wool, and many fabrics have
been eXhumed from tOmbs, with cOlors
still bright. Many specimens are in a
good state of preservation, and show
designs worked in geOmetrlcal figures.
Their skill in the manufacture of pot
terry was great, and they decorated 1t
with a great variety of designs. Their
materialistic notions of religion led
them to mummify the bodies of the dead,
and place them and their belongings
in secret and inaccessible tombs for
safety.
In this series of articles the whole Of
the human race has passed briefly in
review. and it may be well in this clos
ing article to forecast the future, and
see what is probably in store for them.
In all historic time the white race has
been predominant. And it would
seem that, in the temperate zone at
least. no other race can cope with it in
the forward march of civilization, terri
torial occupancy and power. The teem-
ing millions of Asia have been in con-
dition of decadence for centuries, like
wise the African race; they must ac-
cept what civilization has to offer them
or be swept from the face of the earth
What is true of the Asian, African and
Australian races holds good with equal
or greater force as to the American
Indian. If these races are perpetuated
at all, it will probably be only as a
faint strain of blood admiXture in the
white race which is to be a few hun
dred years hence. The industrialism
of the 18th century is bound in time to
spread to all lands and peoples.
The predominance of selfish propensi-
ties which seemed TO have been essential
to mans existence during the ice age is
now slowly yielding to- the altruistic
spirit. This direction to human de-
velopment is given by the fact, that
the whole of society is such a network
of interdependencies that one part cam
not suffer without entailing a certain
amount of suffering on all. When all
men, or a majority of men, come to
see that there is no ultimate gain in the
predomipance of seltshness, but rather
a loss, then altruism will lead in human
action. Then will be ushered in an
era as much superior to the present as
the present is superior to the barbarism
of the middle ages.
But who is to lead in forwarding so