Mv enquiries during several years, concerning the antiqul
ties of the western states, have led me to extend my researcle
over the whole circle of North American antiquities, and com-
pelled me to enter the dedalus of ancient history.
  The result of my researches may be given in a more ample
form at some future period, when rendered adequate to illus-
trate the interesting primitive periods of human existence in
both hemispheres. I shall merely attempt at present to deli.
neate the first rudiments of the ancient history, involving the
revolutions of nature and nations, in that central part of Noi th
America, now linown under the name of Kentucky, and sur-
rounded ty Virginia, Tennessee, the rivers Ohio and Missis-
sippi, extending upwards of 400 miles from east to west, and
from latitude 36 1-2 to 39 degrees north.
  In order to ascertain the filiation, migrations and annals of
the American nations, all the sources have been consulted from
which plausible or certain information might be derived. The
evidences which they afford, stand in the following order:-
1, Features and complexions of nations; 2, their languages;
3, their monuments; 4, their religions; 5, their manners; 0,
their histories; and 7, their traditions.
  1. The white, tawny, coppery, brown and black varieties of
mankind are connected by numerous links, and claim a com-
mon origin; they have been early divided, variously separated,
and occasionally blended again, yet preserving a sufficient dis-
tinction to guide us in tracing their successive settlements.
  The white men became tawny by constant exposure, brown
in warm climates, coppery in cold regions, and black in the
sands of India and Africa. The Mongol features had origin
in the deserts of Northern Asia, and the negro features in those
of Southern Asia and central Africa. There are Mongols with



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