waif nor a “come-by-chance.” Their own account of themselves was that they were indigenous, — true aborigines. With this now agree the conclusions of wise and judicious authorities. Dr. S. G. Morton, writing of the “Aboriginal Race of North America,” says: “Our conclusion, long ago adduced from a patient examination of facts, is, that the American race is essentially separate and peculiar, whether we regard it in its physical, its moral, or its intellectual relations. To us there are no direct or obvious links between the people of the Old World and the New.” It is generally admitted that there is more similarity between the Indians over all North America than there is among the inhabitants of Europe. Agassiz regarded it as proved that this is the oldest of the continents. If so, the burden is now shifted to Europeans, Asiatics, and Africans to account for themselves as offspring, wanderers, vagabonds, or exiles. The Mound Builders form the heroes of much ingenious speculation. So far, little has come of it but relics of crude pottery. Loskiel, the Moravian missionary, speaks very lightly of these puzzling relics. Referring to what the Indians told him, of traditions of former more frequent and ferocious wars — some hereditary — among them, he writes: —
“The ruins of former towns are still visible, and several mounds
of earth show evident proofs that they were raised by men. They
were hollow, having an opening at the top, by which the Indians
let down their women and children, whenever an enemy approached,
and, placing themselves around, defended them vigorously. For
this purpose they placed a number of stones and blocks on the top
of the mound, which they rolled down against the assailants. The
killed, in large numbers, were buried in a hole. The antiquity of
these graves is known by the large trees upon
them.”[1]
After the Indians are all gone, we may perhaps be able
to tell whence they came.
- ↑ History of the Mission of the United Brethren to the Indians of North America, p. 141.
