NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS.



287



Following the track of the Russian colonies and com-
merce towards the North-west coast, and availing him-
self of the navigation, arms, and military skill of civil.



ized nations, he
potisrns of the i
pean America.
be decided on 1



may, aftE
old work
The de
[he water



of Lake Superior. And
posterity, the injuries wv
new, a long, and a glo(
will set in upon manki
of ages, the returning eff
again gladden the natio
our cloud-capped towel
our macnificent cities, 5
have treated, become th
elaborate investigation."



0r subverti ngthe neighboring des.
1, bend his course toward Euro-
.stinies of our country may then
Os of the Missouri, or on the banks
if Asia shalt then revenge on our
e leave inflicted on her sons, a
)my night of Gothic darkness
nd. And wrhen, after the efflux
hulgence of intellectual light shall
ns, then the wide-spread ruins of
rs, of our solemn temples, and of
wil1, like the works of which we
e subject of curious research and



THE MEXICANS ARE THE REMAINS OF A MORE POL-
ISHED NATION THAN THE PRESENT NORTH AMERI-
CAN INDIANS.



It must be observed, however,
and the proz-ress of civilization



that the history
does ntot, at this



offer a greater en igma. worthy of solution than
of the rToltec, Chichirnec, and Aztec tribes, Wv
pose at present those properly denominated I
Their miigrations are not hid in the obscurity
tant ages, like those of the Celts, the Hellen
Pelasari, but at a period comparatively modern,
the movements on the continent of Asia are at
sible to be traced. If we may judg3 from the r
languages, the number of native tribes must



of nations
S moment,
the origin
hich com-
Vexicans.
of far dis-
Les, or the
when all
least pos-
iumber of
be great.



* Roscoe s Lorenzo De Medicis, p. 241.



V