The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-06


e. It. Hamy, a we.l-known French antaro-
noIogist. three years ago. He discussed
tbs spread of the yellow races from East
ern Asia. and recognized eight diueIeht
types. These Included not only the chi
nese and Turk. but certain siberian tribes.
and also the Aleuts Ton the Alaskan sue OF
Rering strait and the EsquiEnaux of north
sastern Greenland He fe.t confident that
a wave, or several waves. Of emigration
had not only extended from Siberia across
.sboreap' (Arctic) America, but also
further down into the heart or the contin-
ent. His argument, SO far az America 3
concerned, is based upon resemblances
found in the skulls and other bones OF the
races On the two sides of the Pacific.
Compulsory Migration.
1t has been suggested. moreover, that the
spirit of enterprise and the overcrowding
of old homes. which often explain other
peaceful invassons of new territory, may
not have been the only agencies in the set
element of America by Asiatics Peter
manns Mitteilungen'' In 1850 contained
suggestive essay by Otto Sittig on Com
pulsory Msgrations in the Pacific" In that
interesting paper are rected large num-
Der of instances of boats and ships having
been carried out of their course 10 dis
tant continents and islands. Scores OF
voyagers in the trade-wind regions were
borne westward from the Gilbert, Mar
shall, Samoan and Tonga groups OF ISL
ands. But further north the great Japan
ese gulf stream, aided by the wind. had
carried ship-wrecked sailors from China
and Japan to the shores OF Alaska and
Oregon And IL a few cases Of this kind
have occurred within the short period for
which a record is obtainable. it seems
PROBABLE that many more have happened
of which the story has been lost.
Major ]. w. Powell, for many years at
the head Of the United States Bureau OF
Ethnology. says: MANY attempts have
been made to prove that aboriginal Amer
lea was peopled from Asia by way of Ber-
ing strait, and a vague belief OF this ma
ture has spread widely, but little scientific
evidence exists to sustain it. On the other
hand. investigations in archaeology have
now made IL clear that man was distri-
buted throughout the habitable earth at
some very remote time or times. in the
very lowest stage OF human culture, when
men employed stone tools and other agen-
cles Of industry of a like lowly character
and that from this rude condition men
have advanced in culture everywhere, but
some to a much greater degree than 9TH
ers. The linguistic evidence comes in to
sustain the conclusions Of archaeology for
a study of the languages of the world leads
to the conclusion that they were developed
in a multiplying of centers; that languages
OF distinct stocks increase in number as
tribes of lower culture are found, and that
probably man was distributed through the
world anterior to the development of or
ganized or grammatic Speech"
The lack of scientific evidence to demon
strate the possible origin OF American
races in Asia Is one which the Jesup expe-
ditions seek to remedy. The first of these.
sent out last year, visited British CoIur,.-
bia and brought back large collection Of
articles pi JrJ
places or obtained from people now living.
Two more left New York a few days ago.
and 1t is probable that several others will
be provided for out of Mr.. Jesup's gift as
soon as the results of the earlier expedi-
tons are known. This method of proce-
dure is obviously judic!ous one, mas
much as 1t IS recognized at the outset that
each one Of these explorations is an expert
ment. That is always the case with scien-
tifc research.
DR.. Franz Boas. N charge of the ethno-
logical collections of the American Mu-
scum of Natural History and leader of the
expedition to British Columbia last year.
said TO a Tribune reporter few days ago:
ut Is not possible at present to speak
with confidence as 10 the comparative ages
OF the several races that have lived on this
continent. or TO say much about their inu-
tual relationship. There are now in North
America several different types of Indian.
These may be designated as the Northeast
err the Esauimau. the Mississippi. the So
moran and the Caribbean. or Southeastern.
If they have a common origin. this must
date long way ack.
I'm regard to the relics found in the
Trenton gravel Ii appears 10 me that the
wisest thing TO do is to suspend judgment
for a while. do not think 1t unrea SON.
able to expect other discoveries OF a SINH
lar character elsewhere on this continent.
I, would not be safe to consider this one
the only possible deposit OF its kind We
may yet find much evidence of glacial man
in America.
Couture Phenomena
THAT which distinguishes man from the
next lower order of animals Is his power
OF speech and his use of implements.
Hence the anthropologist. In his researches.
looks for the tools. traditions and IAN
guage of living and extinct tribes. This is
the material on which we base our con-
ciusions The distribution OF tales among
the races is an important phase OF human
culture which we study with care. In
fact. culture phenomena are highly signif-
cant. Nevertheless, they do not always
prove that one tribe or nation is de-
seconded from or closely related to another.
Ideas are often communicated by the con-
tact OF two very different peoples and
they sometimes arise Independently in diff
ferent tribes
The expedition which visited British Co.
iumbia last summer and fall brought back
an immense collection of masks employed
In ceremonials. household articles and rel
ties obtained from burial places. These
have now been arranged in cases on the
ground floor of the north wing OF the
American Museum OF Natural History. and
form splendid addition 10 the nucleus
afforded by the Emmons collection and
Peary's antlyropologieal exhibit The Brit
sssi Columbian Indians differ In several re-
spects from the Alaskan tribes. Among
the articles brought back last year were
carved clubs Of hone or antler. copper ear
and hair ornaments and skeletons.
\ grotesque feature Of the collection Is
lot OF masks used by the Bella Coda
Indians in some OF their ceremonies, and
associated with their religion. These are
al wood, carved, decorated in curious de-
signs with color. and sometimes represent
sng an animal or bird. The Bella Coolas
believe in a number OF deities who live in
house located In the zenith, and which
Is called the House OF Myths. Their chief
Is The "One who must be worsf1yppad the