_America_ seem to be some of the Posterity of
_Shem_, driven thither by _Providence_, for Causes unknown to us, which
might easily be done (in large Boats or Canoes and Periaguas) from the
Eastern Parts of _Asia_, their Grandfather _Jocktan_'s Country; which is
not improbable: Since a Storm might drive them off from the Shore, and
the trade Winds, which blow constantly one Way half the Year, might
carry them directly to _America_, over the vast _South Sea_ Ocean; in
which Passage their greatest Danger of Death might be Hunger and Thirst;
but they, that know the _Indians_, know also, that they can bear Want a
prodigious while; and what might they not bear, when the Divine Power
was miraculously concerned in it, for Purposes known to the Almighty
only?

Indeed for what we have yet discovered, we don't know, but the Continent
of _America_ may be join'd to _Tartary_; from whence (if so) they might
have an easy, though tedious Conveyance. Be it how it will, I am of
Opinion, that they are descended from _Asia_, and not _Africa_; because
in their copper Colour, long black Hair, strait proper Shape, and
haughty Carriage, they are somewhat like the _East-Indians_; whereas
they seem to be of a different Breed from the _Negroes_, who are
blacker, have uglier Faces and Bodies, and are of a more servile
Carriage, and slavish Temper: Besides, the _Africans_ circumcise, which
with other _Jewish_ Customs, I imagine, they may derive from _Egypt_;
whereas the _Indians_ use no such Practices: Moreover they hate, and
despise the very Sight of a _Negroe_; but they seem to like an
_East-Indian_, and fear and revere the _Whites_.

What some may object in Contradiction to the Universality of the Deluge;
that the Communication between _Asia_ and _America_ was washed away by
it; thence inferring that the _Americans_ are of _Antidiluvian_
Families, may (I presume) be exploded, when we remark, that in most
Places, at a great Depth, and far distant from the Sea, are many great
Beds of strange Shells, and Bones, and Teeth of Fish and Beasts vastly
different from any Land or Water-Animals now found in those, or any
other Parts of the World; so that notwithstanding all the curious
Speculations of Philosophers to reconcile this with Reason, and ascribe
for it natural Causes; yet to me it appears evidently to be a Token, and
Relict of the general Flood of _Noah_. For these Shells and Bones might
be easily preserved from Corruption, and mouldering so l