PREFACE. ANTIQUARIAN Writings have so often been exposed to the charge of being replete with improbable conjectures, and conclusions which vanish at the touch of sober reason, that this interesting class of historical investigations seldom receives the perusal of the plain-thinking portion of the public. It was but just, therefore, to the subject of this work, to draw a line of distinction between facts, and the reasoning of the author upon those facts. For this reason, in the first portion of this volume, with but few exceptions, I have strictly confined myself to a description of the ancient American monuments, pursuing, in as faithful a manner as was consistent with proper brevity, the language of my authorities; and thus affording to the reader an opportunity to frame his own conclusions, and to test the accuracy of mine. Mr. Stephens' travels in Central America were published so recently, that I have been unable to use them with advantage; but they have been so extensively read, that this deficiency is of the less moment. In the second part of this work an attempt is made to solve some interesting problems of ancient aboriginal history. These involve topics of so diversified a character, are so extensive in their bearings, and are predicated upon so many and various proofs, that in many cases it was found incompatible with my proposed limits, to do more than illustrate the several propositions by a portion of the testimonies. Many of them may therefore be considered as brief statements necessary to the chain of argument, and as capable of further proof. As to the conclusions which have been attained no one can be more alive than myself to the fact, that in many cases they are opposed to the usually received opinions upon these subjects. In relation to the question of origin, no predisposition in favor of the result to which I have arrived, has influenced the investigation; for, biased at the outset strongly towards the theory of a migration by Behring's straits, it was only at a later stage of the examination, and after a long struggle, that I was forced to abandon this idea ;-with what reason others must determine. After all, the inquiry, by what route the aborigines reached our shores, is one of minor importance. It is a fact upon which little depends; in view of the extensive diffusion of the Red race over the eastern hemisphere, it cannot be of much consequence, whether they came across the Atlantic, or the southern or northern Pacific. In either case, by other proofs their antiquity is not less certain; the primitive character of their institutions and civilization is not the less demonstrable; and at the most, it could affect only some problems connected with their internal history. Few can be more sensible than myself of the imperfections of this work, or feel more its defects in point of research. Having had no opportunity of consulting several scarce authorities, I am aware that more light might have been thrown upon many of the points it discusses. My chief consolation has been, that even the humblest contributions to so interesting and noble a theme would be received with kindness. Just criticism, however, is essential to the elucidation of truth, and is to be deprecated least of all upon topics still deeply enenveloped in mystery and doubt. INTRODUCTION. THE term History, in its usual acceptation, is somewhat restricted in its scope and application. If its extent were strictly limited to authentic narratives and records, such have been the results of time, of accidents, and of barbarian violence, that only a small portion of the human race has preserved any very ancient written memorials; and, with the exception of the historical facts contained in the Sacred Volume, we should be left in ignorance of the most important occurrences of the early ages of the world. Thus of necessity are mankind impelled, in the gratification of a laudable curiosity, to examine other channels by which the events of remote antiquity may have been transmitted, and to study and compare the languages, customs, traditions, science, religion and monuments of nations. It is true, researches of this character do not always afford certain and definite conclusions; but frequently this arises from the method of conducting the argument, or from the insufficiency of the data, and not necessarily from the essential nature of the testimony. And even when sound conclusions cannot be attained, the interest of the subject compensates, in some degree, for the want of success; for these studies lead directly into the investigation of the greatest problems of human history-the origin, affiliation, and migrations of nations, the progress of society, civilization, knowledge and religion. And if "the development of the human race is history," where is that development more clearly exhibited, than in the monuments, and in the civil and religious institutions of mankind? The character of a people is to be read in their architectural productions,-their dwellings unfold their domestic manners, and often the relative condition of different classes in society, the monuments erected to the memory of the illustrious dead disclose those traits of humanity held in esteem and honor,-the cemeteries tend to exhibit their belief as to a future existence, and the temples and places of worship to denote their religious ideas. Monumental antiquities perpetuate also epochs and occurrences, as well as national characteristics. Truth-telling remnants, which have escaped the shipwreck of time, or rather the organic remains of history, they often indicate those great changes and convulsions which have occurred, as well in the social as in the physical world, and expose in outline the leading events of primeval ages. Tradition and mythology are no less valuable aids in the elucidation of ancient history. Though, when isolated, of doubtful authority, in combination they cement and perfect an historical fabric, the parts of which, incomplete of themselves, are harmonized and strengthened by union. It is known that the mythological systems of the ancients were but the expression of certain religious ideas, sometimes interwoven with cosmogonical philosophy, or were descriptive of real events transformed into theological fables. In these, and in traditions, whereof some are as old as the deluge, should we search for |