The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-01-05

ed across the Pacific ocean in vessels
My own opinion is that they came in
all these ways, the bulk of them, how
eyer, coming by Behring Straits, which
are only thirty-six miles wide, and
sometimes covered with ice so that
people even now cross on it. Three
islands also lie midway across. First,
1T is fact that the islands of the Pa
cific ocean were inhabited when first
discovered by Europeans, although
some OF them were hundreds of miles
distant from their nearest neighbors,
as, for instance, the Sandwich Islands.
1t is likewise true that the inhabitants
OF many Of these islands talked Ian
guage so nearly identical with that OF
those who lived thousands of miles
away that they could understand each
other, as, for instance, that of the peo-
pie OF the Society Islands and Sand.
wich Islands. They were also similar
In features, form. manners and Gus
toms. This shows a common origin
of the people of those islands, and
| they must have drifted to the various
islands by water. There can be but
little doubt of the Malayan descent of
the people north of the equator and
IN Southern Polynesia, including the
Tonga, Samoan and New Zealand
groups" History o. the Sandwich
Island Mission, R. Anderson.] 1t is
also fact that the Eskimos OF North
ern America and Northern Russia are
OF the same race, although very differ
ent from the Indian race of America
farther south. Now if the Malayans
conld go hundreds of miles in their
boats in prehistoric times, it is very
reasonable to suppose that the Indians
could have drifted thirty-six miles long
ago. And if the Eskimos could cross
Behring Straits, it is perfectly reason
able to believe that the Indians could
and did cross them before the time of
the Eskimos.
G. r. Markham, in paper before
the Geographical Society of London
in 1875, shows that during the CEN
turies preceding the appearance of the
Innuit in Greenland, A. D. 1349, there
was a great movement among the peo-
pie of Central Asia, who went north
and pressed upon the tribes of North
ern Siberia, driving them still further
north. They in turn drove out upon
the frozen sea the tribes who had been
living there, and about al. that is now
known of them is their names. His
conclusion is that here We find the
origin of the Greenland Eskimo, the
latest Of the people who came from
Asia. If this is SO, others may have
come just as easily before them.
Again, it is fact that vessels from
Asia have been wrecked on the Pacific
coast in historic times. A Chinese
junk was wrecked at Point Grenville
Chehalis county in 1888 and three of
the Japanese were rescued from the
Indians by the Hudson Bay Company
There is tradition that a Chinese or
Japanese junk was wrecked on the
Clatsop beach years ago, part of the
cargo being beeswax. This beeswax
has been very noted in that part of
Oregon, some has been sent to Wash
with reference to it. Early in the
fifties a canoe in which were three
sailors, who ran away from vessel in
Kodiak, arrived safely at Shoalwater
Bay, the distance travelled being 500
miles. Now if people have come in
this way in historic times, they may
have done SO IN those prehistoric. and
if the Pacific Islands were peopled IN
this way, some parts OF America may
have been. True it is not probable
that any great number came in this
way, when we consider that the route
by Behling Straits is so much easier,
but some have come in this way,
enough to make the beginning of
tribe. And thus part of the variety
of tribes and languages may be ac-
counted for.
The route by Iceland and Greenland
is much more difficult, but it is now an
acknowledged fact that the Vikings of
Norway did. come that way in the
tenth and eleventh centuries, going as
far south probably as Massachusetts.
Although the history of this was con-
cealed from most Europeans for 800
years and all but lost. If they came
thus and the historical facts in the
case were almost lost, it is not improb-
able that others may have come i'll the
same way and the history be entirely
lost.
Thus far have simply shown that
the American Indians, including those
of Puget Sound, may have come in one
or all of these three ways. Myreasons
for believing that they did so come are
these: There is no evidence in the
least to show that they were created
here. In regard to development, DR..
w. III. Dallwell says that the home of
the anthropoid ape, the highest type
of animal below man, and from whom
some believe man was developed, was
in Asia and Africa, and not IN Amer
ica. Thus the evidence that they
were developed (if there is any such
evidence anywhere, and this is only
theory, not demonstrated fact), is to
my mind of no value as relating to the
Indians. Further, like Capt. Phillip,
of the Texas, I believe in Almighty
God and his Bible, and when it says
that God "hath made of one blood all
nations of men for to dwell on the face
of the earth, accept it.
Still further, find a religious belief
among the Indians of Puget Sound, as
well as the rest of America, which is
common also to that of the Eastern
continent, and hence is strong evil
dence of common origin. It has al