Evening star., 1926-05-30
SCIENTIST SEEKS ORIGIN
OF EARLIEST AMERICAN
Smithsonian Institution Is Sending DIR.
Ales Hrdlickd to Bering Strait
Region to Solve Riddle.

A previous American exploration
was that conducted in 1877 under aus
pices of the American Museum of Nat
ural History. known as the Jeeup
North Pacific expedition: In honor OF
Morris X. Jesup. New York banker,
who backed it financially. Excava:
tions were made In many parts of
British Columbia. around Puget Sound
and down the west coast of Washing.
| ton. Many interesting remnants OF
prehistoric tribes we're found. and re-
served conclusions were drawn as to
possible Asiatic traces uncovered. The
expedition succeeded especially in con-
vincing anthropologists Of the an
tiquity of the Indian in America, for
skeletons and stone implements Of
truly prehistoric character were dug
up far underground.
The Jesup party. under the direction
OF Prof. Harlan I. Smith. resumed
explorations in Washington in 1908
and discovered numerous traces OF
ancient peoples. some Of the remains
indicating high culture. Relics
were found 9 feet under the roots of
trees approximately 500 years old and
beneath thick layers of shells believed
to have been the remnants of she'll
fish dinners of countless generations
of Indians.
The possibility of the Indians nav
ing had European origin seems gen.
orally discounted. The Norsemen are
believed to be the first Europeans to
have come to these shores from the
Old World. Other suggestions have
been made to the effect that the red
man may have had Malayan ances-
tors. There are just as strong argu-
ments against such a transpacific In
fiuence as there are in favor of 1t.
Researches made into American
aboriginal history disclose a general
unity of language, customs, religions.
arts and industries. This unity, mani
fest even with regard to the lowest
savages and the highly cultured
Mayans of Yucatan. impels students
of Indian origin to the belief that
all the sundry tribes had a common.
ancient ancestry. How ancient, no
one knows to a certainty, although
the estimates range from several
thousands Of years to countless gene
rations.
Compared to his fiourishing aborisi-
nal state, the Indian in few CEN
turies of civilized rule has ventured
near the borders of extinction. Only
the watchful hand of Uncle Sam has
served to arrest this process of OBJ
liberation, and today the Red Man
again is prospecting, though still In
diminished numbers.
The Smithsonian Institution no
doubt had In mind the difficulties
that would be encountered In research
work as time goes on and the Ameri-
can aborigines become gradually
amalgamated with other races, and
the present expedition under the lead
ership Of DR.. Hrdlicka is the result.
DIR. Hrdlicka is en- route to Juneau
and Seward, whence he will go to
Nenana and ship for Nulato by way of
the Yukon River. He will begin his
explorations at Nulato, following the
banks of the Yukon in quest Of ruins
or other traces of ancient peoples.
Careful examination of present ma
tives of this ''cradle Of America" also
will be conducted.
The deliberate method in which
this expedition will be pushed argues
we'll for a successful answer to the
long and perplexing question pro-
pounded at the outset Of this article.