The record-union., 1897-07-15
ORIGIN OF THE INDIANS.
HOW DID AMERICA COME TO
BE PEOPLED BY THEM?
Important Expedition of the Amer
lean Museum of Natural His
tory of New York.


The American Museum of Natural
History in New York City IS about 10
send ont an expedition, the purpose OF
which Will be to establish just now
America came to be peopled with In
dams. Several leading scientists Will
carry on the Investigations in Alaska
and in Northeastern Asia to determine
whether or not the inhabitants Of the
TWO countries had any ancient connec-
ton with each other by way Of Behr1ng
Straits 1t Will be thorough and sys-
tematic exploration of the country and
people existing between the Amoor
River in Asia and the Columbia River
in America The history, traditions,
folklore, customs, costumes, manners
of living, implements used, and the Ian
lsuage of the inhabitants of both coasts
will be examined into and compared,
with the idea of finding out just how
much ancient similarity existed be-
tween them. DR.. Franz Boas of Co
lumbia University, assisted by Harlan
l. Smith of the American Museum OF
Natural History, will lead the expedi-
1ion, which Will be financed from the
private purse of Morris K. Jesop, Pres
ident Of the museum.
The problem of how America came
10 be peopled has always been a lead
ing one for anthropolOgists, but evil
dence obtained during the past few
years seems to point TO one solution
that the original passage between the
continents was made via Behr1nS
Straits, and that from this point the
Immigrants gradually spread south
war and eastward until new race
spread over the whole western hemis-
phere. This is the theory, plausible
enough in view of the evidence ad-
vanced, although it takes but little ac-
count of any relics of prehistoric man
which may have been found on this
side of the ocean. 1t also entirely dis
regards the theory which pretends that
the Indians are the descendants of the
lost tribes of Israel. Scientists, gener-
ally, contend that this last story is
but a pleasant little myth intended
10 adjust the disparity which exists
between certain Biblical dates and
present conditions. On both shores of
the Pacific relics have been found
which clearly indicate a decided SINH
larity in methods and practices pur-
sued by the inhabitants, but while the
isolated instances of similarity have
given good ground for the theory of
intercommunication, no systematic
plan of research has ever been carried
out 1t is high time now that some
thing definite be done in the matter
for it is expected that the building of
the Trans Siberia Railroad, with its
branches and consequent civilizing in
7luence, viii destroy the primitive con-
ditions and methods of living of GER
lain Asiatic peoples, the study of which
viii be most important in summing up
The question of their ancient emigra-
lion.
The expedition will be divided into
three parties, the first of which will
start for Alaska in June Six years will
be consumed in the research. Particu
]arly will the myths and traditions of
The people of the two countries be in
quired into, as these are apt to give
evidence of the earlier movements of
the races far more accurately than
mere comparison of utensils. But this
inquiry Will be the most arduous task
the scientists have in store for them.
For instance, as DR.. BOas points out,
coast inhabitants are noted for their
3nnumerable dialects. Siberia, in its
central position, is inhabitated by
aribes speaking the same language and
of similar habits, while the eastern
shores of the country boast of a variety
of races and innumerable dialects. In
America the same features obtain. The
Indians of the central portion were
alike in many characteristics occupied
great stretches of country, and spoke
Tor the most part the same tongue.
on the coast the difference in race
and dialects was in large evidence. At
the present time ten languages are
spoken by the people living between the
Columbia River and Behring Straits,
and these are divided into thirty-seven
dialects of widely different character
In Asia we find at least seven Ian
guages and ten dialects spoken along
7he coast and none of the speakers of
any one dialect is able to understand
The speakers of another dialect The di-
Versity is amazing, yet it is expected
that the same myths will be found to
permeate the tradition of all the in
habitants. not only on one, but on both
coasts. The establishment of this fact
would show that ancient intercourse
must have existed between the two
countries. In fine the expedition will
really be a quest for the discoverers of
america
What we already know of the two
coasts consists mainly of the researches
of Ratzel, Mason, and Boas on this side
of the ocean and of Stellar, Schreuck
Castreu, and one or two other explorers
on the Asiatic side. Yet our knowledge
as it stands is limited, scattered, and
untechnical. Not that the men men
7ioned as related bear but a limited
relation to one another and fall short of
supplying a perfect theory. Yet the is
olated information is interesting to a
degree. There is a surprising similarity
in feature existing between the tribes
of the northwest American coast and
the japanese. In many instances the in
vestigator can go a step farther and
point TO Alaskans, who look more like |