SECTION IV.

ORIGIN OF MAN, AND OF THE AMERICANS.

THE

Of the first peopling of the earth.

HE first information we have refpecting the peopling of this globe, is given in the Holy Scriptures. From them it appears, that the first inhabitants were planted in the fertile and pleafant countries near the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, in Mefopotamia and Babylonia. From them fprung the various nations, in Afia, Europe, Africa and America.

Of the progress of fcience and civilization. Thofe countries which were firft peopled and whofe mild climate and fertile foil, invited the fixed refidence of men, were first enlightened with the beams of fcience. Among thefe were Affyria and Egypt. In Affyria we first hear of the Hebrew tongue, the parent of thofe languages which afterwards were spread over Egypt, Greece and Italy, and the first language of which we have any knowledge. From Affyria to Egypt and from Egypt to Greece, and thence to Rome, letters were propagated, and the rude inhabitants were inftructed in the arts and sciences.

Of the Peopling of America. It is evident that many centuries after the old continent was well inhabited, and highly civilized, the American Continent remained the refidence of wild beasts only. By what means men found their way to this continent, is not quite certain; but there is good reafon to believe, they paffed from the northern parts of Tartary, to the north western coast of America, not long after, and perhaps before the Chriftian Era. The Mexican traditions and hiftorical paintings all deduce the origin of the Mexican nations from the north west.

Of the progrefs of fettlements by the natives. It is very probable from the Mexican hiftory, that the natives of America, migrated in hords, clans or tribes; moving, like the Tartars, with their families and fubftance.

These tribes probably ranged firft along the western shore of North America, following each other in fucceffion, like waves following waves, as they were invited to the fouth, by the mildness of the climate, or were driven by other tribes in their rear; until they feated themselves in the warm and fertile vales of Mexico. That country as well as Peru had become very populous when firft vifited by Europeans.

Of the fettlements on the Atlantic. It is probable that when the warmer regions of America had become populous, the Indians began to fpread themselves over the eastern parts of the continent, following the course of rivers, and the fhore of the Atlantic. In this progrefs, they would firft find the rivers that fall into the Miffifippi, and pursuing them, would find and plant the rich intervals on thefe rivers. Then continuing their courfe, they would be led along the Alabama, the Tennefee, the Ohio and the Waubofh, to their fources and croffing the mountains and the Jakes, would pursue the ftreams that fall into the Atlantic. And hence perhaps the tradition among the Indians of the United States, that their ancestors came from the fouth west, and that the great Spirit refides in that quarter.

Of the time when America was first peopled. The Toltecas, the most ancient tribe in Mexico, date their establishment in that country, as far back as the feventh century of our era. This nation was nearly deftroyed by a famin and mortal peftilence about the year one thousand and thirty one. Other tribes fucceeded this, and in the twelfth century, the Mexican tribe, which lived on the north of the Gulf of California, migrated, and after various removals, fixed their abode in the country, which bears their name, about the year thirteen hundred and twenty five. This was about two hundred years before the Spaniards difcovered and conquered the country.

Of the Refemblance among the Indian tribes. All the tribes of the primitive inhabitants of America, appear

to resemble each other, in all effential parts of their character, except the Efquimaux, in Labrador. The people of Mexico and Peru, when firft difcovered, had made confiderable advances towards an enlightened ftate, beyond the other nations. This was owing to a crouded population, which compelled them to cultivate the earth and attend to the arts for fubfiftence. But in the northern parts of this continent the Indians lived in a wild, favage ftate.

Of the Climate of Mexico. Mexico, the capital city of the country, is in the nineteenth degree of north latitude, and of course in a warm climate. The valleys and plains of the country are hot, but the mountains are so high as to have a temperate air, and fome of them at times, are clothed with fnow.

Of the City of Mexico. Mexico was founded in the year 1325, on a small island in the midst of the Lake Tezeuco. It was furrounded by water, but communicated with the land, by three croffways, raised with earth and ftone, wide enough for ten horsemen to ride abreaft; befides two, which were narrower and fupported aqueducts to convey water to the city. When taken by the Spaniards, it was ten miles in circumference, and contained fixty thousand houses.

Of the Buildings of the Mexicans. The Mexicans did not know the ufe of iron, but they had axes of copper, and were acquainted with the ufe of lime. Their public buildings were of great fize, with walls of ftone laid in lime, and fome of them polished to an uncommon degree. They built bridges alfo with ftone arches.

Of the Religion of the Mexicans. The Mexicans had an imperfect idea of a Supreme Being, and believ ing him to be invifible, they never reprefented him by fenfible objects. They believed alfo, like the Greeks and Romans, in a number of inferior deities, who prefided over the air, fire, earth, water, mountains and the like; and they believed alfo in an evil spirit, or god of darknefs. They deified the fun and moon,

and believed in the doctrine of transmigration; that is, that the fouls of men after death pafs into other animals, as cattle, birds, fifles and the like.

Of the Worship of the Mexicans. Altho the Mexicans did not represent the Supreme God by any fenfible objects, yet they had images of their inferior deities, made of. ftone, wood, and fome of them of gold or other metals. These were worshipped with prayers, fafting and other aufterities, kneeling and proftrations, with many rites and ceremonies. To thefe idols also they facrificed human victims, selected from their flaves or prifoners of war, in fuch numbers and with fuch barbarity that the accounts of them cannot be read without horror and aftonifhment. Such is the ftate of nations, who do not enjoy the advantages of civilization and the Christian religion.

Of the traditions refpecting the Deluge, &c. The Mexicans had distinct, traditions among them of the creation of the world, the univerfal deluge, the confufion of languages, and the difperfion of mankind and these events they had reprefented in their paintings. They believed that all mankind had been overwhelmed with an inundation, except one man and one woman, who were faved in a small boat and landed on a mountain. But these traditions were mingled with many. fables.

Of the Priests. The idolatry of the Mexican nations was remarkable for the number of priests, confecrated to the refpective gods. It was their bufinefs to perform the facrifices, compose hymns, take care of the temples and ornaments of the altars, keep the kalendar, preserve the paintings, direct the festivals, inftruct the youth, and offer incenfe. The priests never fhaved their faces, but painted their bodies, bathed every evening, fafted often, and obferved great temperance and aufterities. The Mexicans all practiced fevere cruelties on their own bodies, fuch as piercing and mangling the flesh, abfurdly imagining that fuch mortifications would please their deities.

Of the Mexican Year. The year among the Mexicans confifted of three hundred and fixty five days. Thefe days were distributed into eighteen months of twenty days each, and the five additional days were called, ufelefs, and employed in receiving and returning vifits. The year began on the 26th day of February; but every fourth year it began one day earlier. The century or long period confifted of fifty two years, which was divided into four periods of thirteen years each; and the year, every fourth year, beginning one day earlier, thirteen of these anticipated days carried back the beginning of the year, at the clofe of the century, to the fourteenth of February. Then the new century again began on the 26th. Ceremonies at the Birth of a child. When a child was born, it was immediately bathed in water, and the gods were implored to be propitious to the infant-On this occafion the parents received the congratulations of their friends. The diviners were also confulted as to the future good or ill fortune of the child; for the Mexicans, like other ignorant people, were believers in lucky and unlucky days and figns. On the fifth day, after the birth, the child was bathed a fecond time, when the friends were invited and if the parents were rich, great entertainments were made, and fuits of apparel given to the guests. On this occafion, if the child was a male, a bow and arrows, or fome inftru ment or habit which the child would ufe, when grown up, were prepared; and if a female, a fpindle, or fome drefs fuitable for one of her condition.

Of the Marriage Ceremonies. Marriage agreements among the Mexicans, were made by the parents, after confulting the oracles or diviners, who pronounced on the omens of good or ill. The damfel was folicited by women chofen for that purpose, who went to the house at midnight. In all cafes, the parents of the young woman refused to grant the first request. At the fecond requeft, the parents deliberated with the relations, and afterwards fent an anfwer. At the day