The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-14
ORIGIN OF THE INDIANS.

ferred briefly to scientific report which
probably settles the much discussed ques-
ton as to the origin of the aboriginal in
habitants of the American continent. When
Columbus discovered America the Indians
so called because OF the erroneous belief
that he had discovered the eastern shores
Of Asia-were here in large numbers, scat
tered over the whole of North and South
America. Where they came from, how
they got here and how long they had been
here has been a subject of endless specula-
ton by scientists and laymen. AS the In
dams themselves had no definite traditions
on the subject the field was open for the
widest speculation. 1t even developed diff
ferent theories as to the origin Of the hui
man race, for II man was evolved originally
from several centers 1t was held that
America must have included one of them,
while If he sprang from a single pair it was
as likely that the pair was first created or
established In America as anywhere else.
And IL the Indians were of Asiatic or ORR
entail origin, the next question, equally
difficult to solve, was, how did they get
here? And. If they had a common origin,
how were the marked variations among
different tribes and among the Indians Of
North and South America to be accounted
for. and also the great number of different
languages among them? The theory of an
Asiatic immigration by way of Boring
strait has always found more or less sup
mort arnopp ofbpoloojsfs II 10 now gan
orally conceded that the western hemi-
sphere had been visited by voyagers from
the old world long before Columbus discov-
cred ii. 1t Is quite possible that Japanese
or Chinese vessels, blown by storms or car
ried by the currents of the Pacific ocean,
reached the western coast Of North Amer
lea many hundreds of years before Column
bus born. From Europe the earliest
visitors to America came from Norway by
way of Iceland. and it is a matter of pref
ty well established tradition that they
came in the latter part of the ninth GEN.
fury, fully five hundred years before Co.
lumbus's discovery" The Norwegians
were daring sailors and sea rovers and they
made several voyages to North America
before that of Columbus. They all found
inhabitants who had been here apparently
for centuries.
The scientific report above referred to Is
the result of an expedition known as the
Jessup North Pacific expedition. endowed
by a wealthy New Yorker and fitted out
jointly by the American Museum of Nat
ural History and the Russian Imperial
Academy of Science and the Russian Inn
perial Geographical Society. Its object
| was If possible. to solve the problem of
the origin Of the American Indian. The
commission consisted of two Russian
scientists. learned in chronological lore, and
after two years spent among the tribes in
| habiting the shores of eastern Siberia they
have returned with. as they claim. conclu-
sive proofs that the Asiatic Eskimo and
! the American Indian are of the same race
and that originally both came from China.
The proofs Of this consist of some 1900
| specimens and exhibits taken from among
the native tribes of Siberia. The commits
sioners say the proofs they have obtained
ARE sufficient to establish forever to the
civilized world that there was one round
Pacific race OF the same stocks as the Chi
nese and the japanese" The phrase. "a
round Pacific race" means that the in
habitants Of China, Japan. Arctic Siberia
and the Indians of North and South Amer
| lea were originally all one and the same
race. The proofs of this conclusion are not
yet made public, but they are said to be OF
| a character to settle the question beyond
doubt. This still leaves open the question
how and when the Asiatics got to this con-
tinent, and how long they had been here
before Columbus came. but it Is something
to have the main question settled.