Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/25

 On the origin and defcent of the Indians. \ 3

fmall coafting voyages. The winds blow likewife, with little variation, from eaft to weft, within the latitudes of thirty and odd, north and fouth,, and therefore they could not drive them on the American coaft, it lying di rectly contrary to fuch a courfe.

Neither could perfons fail to America, from the north, by the way of Tartary, or ancient Scythia, that, from its fituation, never was, or can be, a maritime power, and it is utterly impracticable for any to come to America, by fea, from that quarter. Befides, the remaining traces of their religious ceremonies, and civil and martial cuftoms, are quite oppofite to the like vefliges of the old Scythians.

Nor, even in the moderate northern climates, is to be feen the leaft veftige of any ancient {lately buildings, or of any thick fettlements, as are faid to remain in the lefs healthy regions of Peru and Mexico. Several of the Indian nations afiure us they crofted the Mifiifippi, before they made their prefent northern fettlements j which, connected with the former arguments, will fufficiently explode that weak opinion, of the American; Aborigines being lineally defcended from the Tartars, or ancient Scy thians.

It is a .very difficult thing to dived ourfelves, not to fay, other perfons,, of prejudices and favourite opinions ; and I expect to be cenfured by fome r for oppofing commonly received fentiments, or for meddling with a difpute agitated among the learned' ever fince the firft difcovery of America. But,, TRUTH is my object : and I hope to offer fome things, which, if they do not fully folve the problem, may lead the way, and enable others, poffef- fing ftronger judgment, more learning, and more leifure, to accomplish it. As I before fuggefted, where we have not the light of hiftory, or records, to guide us through the dark maze of antiquity, we muft endeavour to find it out by probable arguments ; and in fuch fubjects of enquiry, where no material objections can be raifed againft probability, it is ftrongly con- clufive of the truth, and nearly gives the thing fought for.

From the moft exafb obfervations I could make in the long time I traded among the Indian Americans, I was forced to believe them lineally defcended from the Ifraelites, either while they were a maritime power,,

or

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