NORTH



AMERICAN INDIANS.



cilities it would afford for subsistence, for safety, for all
domestic accommodations and military purposes; and
that on the south shores of Lake Erie, these ancient for-
tresses exist in great number, there can be no doubt but
that these works were erected, when this ridge was the
southern boundary of Lake Ontario, and, consequently,



that their origin mu
  "1A great part- of



by populous na
ces in civilizati(
have been supI
agriculture. N
out the use of
rance, labor, an
proaress in the
has said, 'I pe-



tiomsl
)n.
plied
or cc
iron
d de
arts



st be sought in a very remote age.
North America was then inhabited
;, who had made considerable advan-
These numerous works could never
with provisions without the aid of
)Uld. they have been constructed with-
or topper; and without a perseve-
sicrn which demonstrate considerable
of civilized life. A learned writer



rceive no



reason



xvhy the



As



might not be "an Otlicina virormum as well as
pean. The overteeming country to the east
phcean Mountains must find it necessary to di
inhabitants. The first great wave of people
forward by the next to it, more restless and moi
than itself  Successive and new impulses
arriving, short rest was given to that which E
a more eastern tract; disturbed again and ag
ered fresh regions. At length, reaching the f
its of the old world, it found a new one,
space to occupy unmolested for ages.'*
  " After the north of Asia had thus exhaust
berant population by such a great migratio
require a very long period of time to produce



ation
miorh
have
AvaiL
woul



iatic North
the Euro-
of the Ri-
scharge its
was forced
re powerful
Continually
-pread over
main, it cov-
arthest lim-
with ample



ed its exhui-



n, it would
e a co-oper-



of causes, sufficient to effect another. rrhe first
ty stream of people that flowed into America, must
remained free from  external pressure for ages.
ling themselves of this period of tranquillity, they
d devote themselves to the art of peace, make rapid



* Pennant's Artic Zoology, vol. 1, p. 260.
               25



285



I