The sun., 1903-10-18
RACES NEAR RERING STRAIT.
Evidences OF the Close Relationship Ne
tween These Northern Tribes.


The earliest history Of our native races
and the question OF the tribal relations
between these races and those Of Asia
have long interested anthropologists.
While anthropology Was young imagna-
ton led some inquirers to identify the
aborigines of America with one or another
OF the ancient peoples Of the Old World.
Then came reaction from this view, which
eliminated in the opinion advanced by
DR., d. g. Brinton. who believed the Ameri-
can race and American culture were entirely
independent OF those OF the Old World.
This view seemed to be extreme. and
anthropologists agreed that the time had
come for very careful study of the neigh
boring tribes OF Asia and North America,
In the hope that such Investigations would
throw light on their past relationships.
Since 1897 much time and labor have been
devoted to these researches. The most
important Of them have been included In
the work Of tho Jesup North Pacific ex-
pedition.
As ID well known, the various parties In
this expedition have investigated tho
isolated tribes between Bering Strait and
Columbia River, and also the isolated tribes
OF northeastern Siberia. The problem
to be solved in Asia was the relation Of the
isolated tribes of Siberia to the Turkish
and fungus tribes OF that continent on one
side Of them, and to the isolated tribes
OF northwestern America on the other
In similar way. the problem in America
was the relation Of the coast tribes Of the
northwest to the more southerly tribes
OF our continent on one hand, and to the
Siberian tribes on the other.
The American Museum Journal has
Just printed resume OF the history Of the
organization OF the Jesup North Pacific
expedition and Of the field work which
1t carried out. The investigators who
took part in the field work are this fall
all engaged in studies OF the materials
collected. 1t will be some time before this
work is completed, and it Is estimated
that the series Of scientific reports resulting
from the expedition will fill at Least twelve
quarto volumes.
1t is Of course premature to draw final
conclusions as to the early tribal rela-
tions between the inhabitants Of north
eastern Asia and northwestern North
America, because the greater part Of the
materials collected are not yet available
for purposes Of comparison. Il is not too
early, however to refer to tho very impor-
tant conclusion which, it seems oven now,
will be justified by the Anal summing up
Of the work.
The Jesup expedition seems to have e.
tablished the close relationship between
the peoples Of Asia and America. Their
studies have. apparently made clear the
fact that the isolated tribes of eastern
Siberia and those of the northwest coast
Of America form one race similar in type
and with many elements of culture in COM
mon.
1t seems to be proved that the unity OF
race in these two quarters Of the globe
facing each other was much greater In
former times than it Ia now; that the earlier
conditions were disturbed by the invasion
Of eastern tribes In America, such as the
Esquimau. Athabascan and Salishan; and Of
western and southern tribes in Asia. such al
the Yakut and fungus
Still. enough evidence has been secured
to lead to the conclusion that the tribes Of
this whole area must be considered as a
single race; or at least that their culture IL
. single culture which at one time wzs
found in both the northeastern part Of Asia
and the northwestern part Of North
America.