eferences are made to the authorities
consulted. The reader his a right to know who vouches for the statements
made in the text.

The pleasantest part of an author's duty is to return thanks for
assistance. After the manuscript was prepared with what care could
be bestowed on it, it was determined to submit it to some of our best
American scholars for criticism. Accordingly, each of the gentlemen
named on the title page were requested to review one or more chapters.
As far as possible, each one was asked to review that chapter or
chapters for which, either by reason of the position they held, or the
interest they were known to take in such subjects, they would by common
assent be acknowledged as eminently fitted to sit in judgment. In
justice to them, it should be stated that they were not expected
to concern themselves with the literary merits or demerits of the
manuscript, but to criticise the scientific statements made therein. To
each and all of these gentlemen the author would acknowledge his deep
obligations.

We are indebted to Rev. J. P. MacLean, the well-known archaeologist,
both for many valuable suggestions, and for the use of wood-cuts on
pages 60, 138 and 396. We are also under obligation to Rev. S. D. Peet,
editor of the _American Antiquarian,_ for cuts illustrative of
the effigy mounds of Wisconsin. The officials of the Smithsonian
Institution, and the Bureau of Ethnology have our thanks for many cuts,
for which credit is given them throughout the work.

Finally, the author wishes to say that it was the intention to make
this work the joint production of the author and his partner, Mr. S. C.
Ferguson, but before any progress was made it was deemed advisable to
change the programme. While the literary work has all been performed by
the author, the many details necessarily connected with the publication
of a book were attended to by Mr. Ferguson.

E. A. ALLEN.

Cincinnati, _January_ 1, 1885.

CONTENTS

Chapter I. INTRODUCTION.

Difficulties of the subject--Lesson to be learned--The pursuit of
knowledge--Recent advances--Prehistoric past of the Old World--Of the
New--Of Mexico and the South--The Isles of the Pacific--Similar nature
of the relics--The wonders of the present age--History of popular
opinion on this subject--The teachings of the Bible--Nature of
the evidence of man's antiquity--The steps leading up to this
belief--Geology--Astronomy--Unfolding of life--Nature of our inquiry.