ce between the Indians
of America and the eastern inhabitants of Asia, we should say that the
former are descendants of the latter, or the latter of the former,
except indeed the Esquimaux, who, from the same circumstance of
resemblance, and from identity of language, must be derived from the
Greenlanders. A knowledge of their several languages would be the most
certain evidence of their derivation which could be produced. In fact
it is the best proof of the affinity of nations, which ever can be
referred to."

After regretting that so many of the Indian tribes have been suffered
to perish, without our having collected and preserved the general
rudiments of their language, he proceeds,

"Imperfect as is our knowledge of the tongues spoken in America, it
suffices to discover the following remarkable fact. Arranging them
under the radical ones to which they may be palpably traced, and doing
the same by those of the red men of Asia, there will be found probably
twenty in America, for one in Asia, of those radical languages; so
called because if ever they were the same, they have lost all
resemblance to one another. A separation into dialects may be the work
of a few ages only, but for two dialects to recede from one another,
'till they have lost all vestiges of their common origin, must require
an immense course of time; perhaps not less than many people give to
the age of the earth. A greater number of those radical changes of
language having taken place among the red men of America proves them
of greater antiquity than those of Asia."

Indian traditions say, that "in ancient days the Great Island appeared
upon the big waters, the earth brought forth trees, herbs and fruits:
that there were in the world a good and a bad spirit, the good spirit
formed creeks and rivers on the great island, and created numerous
species of animals to inhabit the forests, and fishes of all kinds to
inhabit the water. He also made two beings to whom he gave living
souls and named them Ea-gwe-howe, (real people). Subsequently some of
the people became giants and committed outrages upon the others. After
many years a body of Ea-gwe-howe people encamped on the bank of a
majestic stream, which they named, Kanawaga (St. Lawrence.) After a
long time a number of foreign people sailed from a part unknown, but
unfortunately the winds drove them off and they ultimately landed on
the southern part of the great island and many of the crew perished.
Th