would leave the multitude of the heathen, and go forth into a further country where never mankind dwelt." These unfortunate remnants of the ten tribes are thought by some to have carried out their design by crossing into America, and there to have become the progenitors of the Indian race.

History tells us that they advanced as far as Media. Beyond this, we know nothing of their travels; nor is there any evidence of their having finally settled in America except a fancied resemblance between the customs and religious ceremonies of the Indians and those of the ancient Israelites. Both had their priests and prophets, their washings and anointings, their fasts, feasts, and sacrifices. But neither these, nor other alleged points of resemblance, are sufficient to prove the theory.

12. It seems far more probable that the first settlers of America were from Egypt. Their taste and skill in building would indicate this, as well as the fact that in different caves in the West bodies have been found, preserved somewhat in the style of Egyptian mummies.

The history of these early immigrants seems to be as follows:-Soon after the Confusion of Languages, a large body of men, after a temporary residence in Central India, driving their flocks before them, moved to Egypt, and conquered its original settlers, the descendants of Miz'-ra-im. Under the name of Shepherd Kings, they there founded a noble empire, built large cities, and erected massive pyramids which still remain as monuments of their power. The Mizraimites, however, roused by their tyranny, finally rose against them, and after a long contest drove them from the land. The defeated Shepherds, in quest of a new home, turned their course to the northeast, and left numerous traces of their passage through Central Asia and Siberia in the form of well-built walls and mounds. They are supposed at last to have crossed into America in the manner before described, to have erected

them? What is the only evidence of their having reached America? Mention these points of resemblance. Are they sufficient to prove the theory? 12. What seems far more probable? What evidence is there that the first settlers of America came from Egypt? Give the history of the Shepherd Kings. What are they finally supposed to have done? When was the city of Mexico founded? 13. What

SUCCESSIVE EMIGRATIONS TO AMERICA,

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the mounds and ancient works whose remains are still visible in the valley of the Mississippi, and ultimately to have made their way to Mexico, and built the city of that name early in the fourteenth century.

13. The Indians of America must have sprung from later bodies of Asiatic adventurers than the Mexicans. Behring's Strait, or the ocean near it, may often have been crossed during the lapse of ages; and, judging from the difference of character and language in the various tribes, it is highly probable that the passage was made a number of times at different eras. Curious aboriginal remains are still to be seen in various parts of our country, which show that the first settlers arrived there at a very early period, before they had forgotten the mechanical arts through the allurements of forest life. They were probably followed by less civilized bands, who drove them from their original seats. Thus successive immigrations may have taken place, each party of new-comers pushing its predecessors further east and south, and being themselves afterwards driven in these directions, until the whole continent was peopled.

14. The traditions current among the Indians throw but little light on their origin. They have a general belief that they are aborigines, or, in other words, that they sprung from the earth and are not connected with any other people. By one account they are represented as having climbed up the roots of a large vine from the interior of the globe. According to another, their ancestors, while living as they had done for ages under ground, accidentally espied the light of day through the opening of a cavern, and by dint of great efforts scaled the walls of their subterranean prison and came out upon the surface.

Some of the Red Men, however, retain an indistinct tradition of having crossed a tract of water to reach their present habitations. The Ath-a-pas'-cas, who bear a striking resemreason is there for thinking that Behring's Strait was crossed a number of times? What are to be seen in various parts of our country? What do these show? By whom were the first immigrants followed? 14. What is the general belief of the Indians respecting their origin? How do different accounts represent them as having reached the surface of the earth? What tradition do some tribes retain?

The

blance in dress and manners to the people of Eastern Asia, say that they once lived in a region far to the west. Chepeweyaus [chep-e-wa'-anz], also, state that they originally came from another land, inhabited by very wicked people; that they were obliged to traverse a narrow lake, shallow and full of islands, on which they suffered greatly from cold and encountered immense masses of ice and snow. If this 66 narrow lake" was Behring's Strait or the northern extremity of the Pacific, the islands referred to may have been the Aleutian [a-leu'-she-an] group, in which inexperienced navigators would be very likely to become entangled.

CHAPTER II.

THE GREAT INDIAN FAMILIES.

15. THE various Indian tribes that occupied America on the first arrival of Europeans closely resembled each other in customs, complexion, and general appearance. There were minor points of difference, but these were hardly sufficient for grouping them into great families. This could not be done till their languages were compared; and it was then found that the numerous tribes east of the Mississippi and south of the St. Lawrence sprung from eight parent stocks. Little was then known respecting those west of the Mississippi, nor have we yet sufficient acquaintance with them for a proper classification.

16. These eight great families are known by the following names: Algonquin [al-zhon'-kwin], Huron-Iroquois [hu'-ron ir-o-kwoy'], Dah-ko'-tah or Sioux [soo], Ca-taw'-ba, Cher-okee', U'-chee, Nat'-chez, and Mo-bil'-i-an. The Map on page 10 shows their respective locations in the year 1650, before which the interior of the continent was but little known.

What do the Athapascas believe? What, the Chepeweyans? What islands may be referred to in this story?

15. In what did all the Indians closely resemble each other? What was necessary before they could be grouped into families? How many great families were there found to be? What is said of the tribes west of the Mississippi? 16. Name the eight great families. What extensive family is not included among them?

ALGONQUIN TRIBES.

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Among these families, the widely extended Esquimaux [es-ke-mo] (fish-eaters) are not included. They do not lie within the limits of the United States, but occupy the shores of all the seas, bays, and inlets of America, north of lat. 60°.

17. The Algonquin was the largest of these families. It occupied about half the territory now embraced in the United States east of the Mississippi, and contained as many warriors as the remaining families put together. It even extended north of the St. Lawrence, including, among other tribes, the Knisteneaux [nis'-te-no], scattered throughout the wide tract between Hudson's Bay and the Rocky Mountains. The Algonquin family embraced most of the nations connected with the history of the first settlers: the Nar-ra-gan'setts, Wampanoags [wam-pa-no'-agz], Pe'-quods, and Pawtuck'-ets, in New England; the Mo-he'-gans, on Long Island and the banks of the Hudson; the Delawares, who owned an extensive tract on the river now called by their name; and the Pow-ha-tans', originally a confederacy of more than twenty tribes on Chesapeake Bay, afterwards exterminated by war and disease. The Ottawas [ot'-ta-wawz], Chip'-pe-ways, Sacs and Foxes, Miamis [mi-am'-eez], Shaw-nees, and other western tribes, were also Algonquins.

Though speaking dialects of one great language, and grouped in the same family, many of the smaller Algonquin tribes were constantly at war with each other, their hostility often arising from trifling causes, and being handed down from generation to generation. Their numbers were thus kept reduced, and it was not rare for a tribe to become in this way entirely extinct.

18. Surrounded by the Algonquins, but occupying a large tract and enjoying a high reputation for prowess, the HuronIroquois was the next family in importance. They covered

What does the word Esquimaux signify? What part of America do they occupy? 17. Which was the largest of these families? How much territory did it occupy ? North of the St. Lawrence, what large tribe did it embrace? Mention some of the tribes belonging to the Algonquin family, and their respective locations. What kept many of the Algonquin tribes reduced in number? In what did their hostility often originate? 18. What family was next in importance to the Algonquins? Where did they live? Mention the principal Huron-Iroquois tribes. For

a great part of the state of New York, as well as the Canadian peninsula formed by Lakes Ontario, Erie, and Huron. To this family belonged the Hurons or Wy'-an-dots, the E'-ries, and the formidable confederated tribes generally known as the Five Nations, who were afterwards joined by the Tus-ca-ro'-ras, a kindred tribe from Carolina. The Iroquois proper, or Five Nations, were as distinguished for their intelligence as for their superior skill and courage in war. They displayed great wisdom in the management of their domestic affairs, and advanced further in the arts of Indian life than the rest of their race. Conscious that they

owed their strength to union, they maintained their confederacy with the utmost care, and thus were more than a match for enemies that met them singly. Their position, as may be seen from the Map, was highly favorable. Lake Ontario on the north, and an extensive mountain-range on the southeast, served as bulwarks against their enemies ; while their intercourse with the Dutch settlements kept them well supplied with arms and ammunition.

19. The Dahkotahs, or Sioux, a widely extended family, lived mostly west of the Mississippi. Hence little was known about them by early settlers. One Dahkotah tribe, the Win-ne-ba'-goes, migrated eastward, at what period we are not informed, and settled on the western coast of Lake Michigan [mish'-e-gan] among the Algonquins. The prominent members of the Dahkotah family were the Man'-dans, I'-o-was, Mis-sou'-ris, O-sa'-ges, and the Ar-kan'-sas and Kan'sas Indians.

20. The Ca-taw'-bas, living in the interior of Carolina, south of the original seat of the Tuscaroras, were once a powerful people. Becoming engaged in war with the Iroquois, they were vanquished and nearly destroyed. Hardly a hundred now survive.

21. West of the Catawbas lived the Cherokees. Occupy

what were the Five Nations distinguished? To what was much of their strength owing? What advantages did their position have? 19. Where did the Dahkotahs live? What tribe of this family migrated eastward? Where did they settle? Mention some prominent Dahkotah tribes. 20. Where did the Catawbas live? By whom were they vanquished? What is their present condition? 21. West of the