The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-02
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! THE ORIGINAL AMERICANS s
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OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

The American museum Of natural hfs-
tory fn New York city - about tn send
out an expedition. the purpose Of which
VIII be To establish just hoz America
came TO be peopled with Indians. SEW
erai leading scientists viii carry on In
veafigasiens IN Alaska and In Northeast
err Asia 10 determine whether or NOT the
inhabitants Of the two countries Rad any
ancient connection Eifh each other -
way of Bersng straits. II will be a thor
ouxh and systematic exploration of tire
country and people existing between the
Afaoor river In Asia and the Columbia
river IN America. The history, traditions.
folklore. customs. costumes manner OF
living. implements used and the Language
- the Inhabitants of both coasts viii be
examined into and compared. with the
idea Of finding out Just hov much ancient
similarity existed between them Dr.
Franz Boax of Columbia university. ass
sisted by Harlan l. Smith. Of the Amer
lean Museum OF Natural History. will
lead the expedition. which will ~ financed
from the private purse Of Morris X. Jesop,
president Of the museum.
The problem Of how America came 10
be pcopied has always bscn leading one
Tor anthropoiogssts. but evidence obtained
during the past few years seems Is point
TO one soIutisn--that the original passage
between the continents was made VIA
Boring straits and that from this point
the immigrants gradually spread south
ward aud eastward until new rHse
spread over the whole Western hsri-
sphere This is the fhesry. rlansfOis
enough. In siew Of the evidence advanced
although ii takee but little account OF any
relics Of prehistoric mar which may have
been found ga this side Of the ocean IL
also entirely disrszHTtis the theory which
pretends that the Indians are the deses nd
ants Of the lost tribes Of israel SssefitsSts
generally contend that this last story -
but PHEASANT little myth intended 10 adj
just the disparity which exists between
certain Biblical dates and present condl-
tons. On both Shores Of the Pacific relics
have been found which clearly Indicate
decided similarity in methods and prAc-
ticea pursued by the inhabitants. but v hiie
the isolated instances Of similarity have
given good ground for the theory OF In
Recommendation systematic plan OF
research has ever been carried out II is
high time now that something definite be
done In the matter. for II Is expected that
the building Of the trans Siberian railroad.
with ifH branches and consequent ciyiiiz-
ing Influence. viii destroy the primitive
conditions and method of living Of certain
AsiatIe peoples the study Of which viii
be most important In summing up the
question OF their ancient emigration.
The expedition VIII be divided into three
parties the arss of which will start for
<ttarE& III may SiA ftdfF VIII w NOt3r
stunned in research. Particularly will the
myths and traditions of the people II
the two countries BIZ Inquired into.
these are apt TO give evidence OF the
earlier movements Of the racea far more
accurately than mere comparison of
uttHsiIs. Rnt this inquiry viii be the
most ardunus task the scientists have Ia
store for them. For Instance. as Dir Boax
points out. coast inhabitants are noted
for their innnmerasir dialects. Siberia
ia It's central position. il Inhabited by
tribes speaking the same language and
OF similar habits. while the eastern shoes
OF the country boast OF variety Of RACES
and inauu cradle dialects. In America the
same features obtain The fa6iaas of the
central portion were alike In many char
acteristicx. occupied gisat stretches of
country and spoke for the most part the
same tongue. On the coast the difference
In race and dialects was In large evil
dencs. AT the present time ten languages
arc spoken b5 the people living between
the Columbia river and Boring straits.
md these divided into thirty seven
dialects OF widely different character.
In Asia we find at least seven languages
and ten dialects spoken along the coast
and mono Of the speakers of any one dta-
beet Is able 10 understand the speakers
OK another fsaIecf. Tho diversity IL
amazing. yet IL Is expected that the same
myths viii b. found Ia pcrmeate the ira
dtson az all the Inhabitants. not only on
one but on both coasts The establish
n,snt OF this fact would show that ancient
intercourse must have existed between
the two countries. In fine tho expedition
will really be a quest for the discoverera
OF America
What we already know OF the two
coasts consists mainly OF the researches
Of Ratzei Mason and Bcaz on this side
OF the ocean. and pf Stellar. Sehreuck
cAsueu and one or two other explorers
on the Asiatlc Ss1e. Yet our knowledge
as ~ stands Is limited scattered and
uufes hnical Not that the men mon
toned are antschnlcai I'm any sense but
the facts ax related bear hut a limited
relation 70 orr another and fall short Of
supplying perfect Theory Yet the
iss lated Information IS interesting 20 a
degree There IL surprising similarity
IN feature existing between the tribes
o. the Northwest American c0aSt and the
Japanese. In many Instances the In
yestigasor can 10 q step farther and
ps,int Ia Alaskaus who look more like
the inhabitants of Asia than they 30 like
Americans. and 20 the Anus Of japan
aud sonie Of the inhabitants OK t'orea and
OF Tibet wne are perfect types OF the
North American indian. There IS the sans
straight hair. the high check bones and
general expression Of the Indian.
In the Alaskan mud the lighter skin,
the narrow eves. the Arrangement Of ths
hatr ard general characteristics " the
Japanese. They ike In houses pursue
the arts Of pceec and OF the chase. and
have a round Of traditions very similar
10 that ef Fhrsr insaiar prototypes Al
though similar Ia character 60 certain In.
dian beliefs. their religious system has
scsne general principles in common with
the earlier forms OF Japanese wor~hiA
Pictures % a Northwest coast chief lytnE
IN state show scheme % ceremonial
dress almost Identical with that assumed
rs the Grand Llama Of Thshet We fus
The AlakkaIiS INDUCING On theatrical tser.
foyuaance@ which err displayed fresn 4
PLATFORM The masks used BY the chief.
in ceremonial dances may he seen almost
in Duplicate az Thihes The carving or
the totem pales IN front OF tho reas,
houses in the Villages on Prince OF VALE,
island Alaska. arr Of very similar char
mster to tire carvings on KOREAN isnple
meats ard on certain utensils used n
Thsias In Korea the travvisr repeatedly
...sss= across carved tusres ard isnrlens.
elongated wooden statues sticking from
ths, grossua which bar a definite reseEn
bta.,s... 10 the totem poles 90 Alaska
some. az these kofeStn Stss0sS are naace
the same in form. though % direren
raatertai as the famous stone heads q
Easter island sn the Pacific eceaa Again
=, Raro~ra New xeaianst near the tom,
ef TIE daughter of Mherc-N fsero. ss.ssssl
a TIKI or totem. which s. an atssoltt.
saesirnsie OF the totem poles Used in IN,
Northwest ~ seems - h% ons 81 "a,
numerous scNama statues which ahssfr.
IN the tsaana. but nattxes say kAas th4
newest nxssrv GA sh@ p~ie represent.
Mani she Atai. wha. according 20 Naor
TRADITION nshed an the island from ~