New-York tribune., 1901-06-22

the Ethnie Tniy Of TIE Race by bp %xv 4S
Dellenbaugh. Illustrated o''a'o' PP'
@. p. Putnams sons
Tho mystery that was formerly oonsidereu :.
-. - eome Of the aboriginal inhabitants OF
,Cor,b America has been pretty thoroughly ulssi-
.a ,,,, modern chronological research INC
..,-.,,,s,ea races OF mound builders ana GIN
so,tars and the civilized tribes OF Mexico 'te
,,oxv recognized 20 have been, together WIN NV
rsouinaux. Of the same stock as the ieu
ians"-the differences between them Delns uUe
"a different stages Of Advancement anu
not Of kind but Of degree. MI DellehO0"e"' "
this admirable study OF the Indian race mas en-
forced this fact and added to Uncertainty "i a.
IL anv addition We're necessary. lie ~riles "a
fhe "Amerdnds" as he calls them IN acc"foaiiee
,,, the term adopted by the bureau ol f-'ii
,oloev not only as an archieolosis' '"oi o"s'''
:. ,son,a ,r the results Of recent investigation
and a contributor 10 them hifhse'i' Du' a 'Ie
~a,,,,iar With many different tribes by intimate
contact with 1hem. His examination OF the ms
,orical questions involved. his discussion OF the
,,,,aqes and ayriting the Industries, the man
,ers and customs the folklore and the organiza-
.io, and government Of the Indians. touches all
sides ~ the subject and gives the unprofesslonal
reader a complete, and i'm many ways, mover
view Of the Indian and his real position In MS
-, ono of the MOST valuable features Of the
,,ool, &c its illustrations. which are very numer-
ous and derived from authentic sources.
xKrberez,er they came from origdnally-and Mr.
Dellen baugh seeTnssto favor the CneorF OF an eA-
caedinglv remote peopling Of this continent iroh
various directions-thsere is no doubt that lhe
"Amerinds" long ago became homogeneous Inc
.s,sfarenoas IN their attachments in civilization
were due to differences in their surrouhoinss
and other conditions. especially climatic changes
evidences to show mat
..ba North American tribes We're everywhere
,.orl,ina and gradually conquering the secrets OF
,,.ture inst as cur ancestors did. and just as
NE are still doing to-day; some doing more
otbers less: some being quick. and others CUM
sv ignorant and dull Mr. pelhnbaugE de-
fends the Indian from the discredb usually at
tributed TO him Of ''shiftlessness-" Evidences OF
his toll are found everywhere on the continent
His life was one of almost constant iabor-for
hunting with him was a means or hNehhooo-
and there are proofs Of his skill in many diner
ent things and in making the best use or the
means at his disposal. The invention or the
snow house of the Esquimaux for instance is
~one Of the greatest triumphs over environment
man has ever accomplished" The same kind OF
adroitness in taking advantage OF resources at
hand is shown in the great adobe structures of
the "Ameriuds" in Northern Mexico and the
Southwestern United States The cliff dwell
,ngs which some writer's would clothe with mys-
terry. were no more mysterious than dwellings
now occupies-they were constructed in cliffs
simply because il was exI-dient to build them
there and not because the builders were a race
anart from other "Amerinds." So as Mr. Dellen-
baugh observes lit is not sensible, when some
stvle of construction is discovered differing from
that which we have been accustomed TO see to
ascribe it to some mysterious race.
The mystery Of the mound builders" has gone
with the rest. The mounds that have been found
in large numbers foundations for buildings
or were defences or We're connected with relig-
ious rites in various ways; and it is not neces-
sary TO look beyond the Indian for the origin OF
them-that IS, beyond the Indian as he was
known in the regions -where the mounds occur.
He built mounds after the whites arrived; and
IL he built several. he might have built
all. The reputed skill shown in the carvings
found in mounds has be-en greatly exaggerated
n by romantic writers. and the alleged likeness of
u certain animal forms 10 far of tropical beasts
and birds is shown to he 'non-existent In fact
on the slightest accurate Investigation the "mys-
terry bubble bursts.
Contrary 10 the long. prevalent idea that the
Indians worked and We're incapable OF
doing than weaving baskets. most tribes
carried on farming. and other industries were
not uncommon. In the West and Southwest
they built extensive irrigation works Mining
was done in different parts OF the continent; the
rich Lake Superior copper deposits. once con-
sidered the scene OF Of the mysterious"
peoples labOrs. were the most extensive known
10 the Indians. The workers in these mines had
knack Of getting the almost pure copper out Of
the ground, but they were not different on that
account from their neghbors. The knowledge of
working IL limited. and no objects have been
found demanding skill in manipulating guam
tity Of the metal at once. The "Amernds" are TO
be properly described as In the Stone Age of
culture.
Mr. Dellenbaugh has extremely interesting
chapters the languages and dialects. the
Mexican and Central American writing the
amusements. music and games the customs and
ceremonies. myths and legends all of which are
treated with acuteness and insight. but neces-
sarily somewhat briefly. The languages show
great divergences and though the comparative
seems TO have been no progress in finding rela-
tonships between the various branches Much
work has yet 10 be done TO rescue many facts
about the languages. manners and customs OF
the Indians from oblivion and il must be done
speedily; for. Mr. DeIlenbaugh points out the
title Of his book. The North Americans OF Yes
terday.' is based upon q fact: There are still
some 'Amerinds' extant, and few are even vet
apparently leading the old time life Never1h
less, they are merely remnants Of a people whose
sun has set. and who therefore properly belong
10 yesterday"