crossed a prairie that was still burning. 19th. Two unarmed natives were seen, who wished to come into the camp, but this was not permitted. The bark of the Arbutus procera appeared to be made use of in this quarter for some purpose not ascertained. 20th. Fell in with four or five natives, who said that the people on the Umpqua were waiting for Michel's party (trappers of the H. B. Company), intending to attack them. 21st. Encamped at the foot of the Umpqua Ridge, which divides the waters of the Umpqua and Rogues rivers. The pass is very steep and difficult, and is also considered dangerous on account of the bad character of the natives, who, according to report, sometimes shoot arrows at travellers or their horses, from places of concealment.

"On the 22nd the party crossed the ridge without accident, and without seeing natives, and encamped at its southern base. 23rd. Rested for the day. Three men of the KLAMET tribe would have passed us without speaking, had not our guide addressed them. All the natives seen since leaving the Willamette, have been a squalid miserable set of beings, shy in approaching white men. 24th. Resumed the journey; and, in the course of the day, several natives were seen hiding among the trees and bushes, but they did not appear disposed to molest us. 25th. Encamped on the banks of Rogues River. One of the hunters reported that, after having killed a deer, he had been shot at with arrows, and forced to abandon it. 26th. Some natives * were seen, and also canoes, which were excavated from logs, and appeared to be used principally for spearing fish in the shallow waters. Reached Turner's camp, where a party of traders had formerly been defeated, and compelled to return. Human bones were strewed around. 27th. Continuing along the river, natives were heard shouting on the opposite

* A native was reported to have been seen, wearing a species of cuirass; in all probability, similar to the one obtained from the same tribe through the Hudson Bay Company. This cuirass is composed of flattened parallel sticks, woven together by means of twine; most of which is of vegetable fibre, and the residue of human hair. The shoulder-straps are of the usual soft leather, but with the hair remaining on. Apart from the peculiarities in the manufacture; this, and the slight leather shield of the Missouri, form the only examples I am acquainted with of the use of defensive armour by the American tribes.

D

bank. At a place where a former party had been annoyed, several of the company dismounted and scoured the bush. Some natives at a great distance took shelter behind a tree, and it was evident that the rifle was much dreaded in this vicinity. After leaving the river, three mounted natives were seen making off at a rapid rate." The horses had doubtless been derived from some trading party, and were the only ones seen on the route. "The mistletoe was

abundant, and in many instances formed the only foliage on the trees. 28th. Some natives again were heard shouting. Encamped at the base of the Shasty or Boundary Ridge, which very nearly coincides with the forty-second parallel of latitude, or the political boundary between Oregon and California. Another trading party had been defeated at this place, and compelled to return. On the following day, however, the ridge was crossed without seeing natives." The further continuation of this journey will be found noticed in the account of the Californians.

It is known that the Mexican annals derive the origin of the Aztecas (the intrusive Mexicans) from the North, in the direction of Oregon. The connexion may not be easily traced; but a coincidence has been spoken of, in the occurrence of the terminal "tl," so characteristic of the Mexican language, among the Nootka people. I remarked that the same termination was common with the Chinooks; and I heard it even in the Nisqually tribe. The lateral fringe to the trowsers, universal in Oregon, is known to occur among the aboriginal Mexicans; with whom, moreover, it is said to subserve the purpose of an inventory.* The fashion, aboriginal with the Oregon females, of wearing the hair in two lateral braids, is also widely diffused in Spanish America; and we observed it even in Chili. The use of masks, which is also common to Mexico and the north-west maritime tribes, will be adverted to hereafter. And further, a distinct correspondence in style of art is traceable between the ancient paintings and sculptures of Mexico and Yucatan and the carved-stone pipes of North-west America. Another fact not irrelevant to the point in question, is the observation made by the missionaries, that the tribes of Interior

* See Basil Hall's Travels.

Oregon are at this day "all pressing gradually towards the south."*

It was only after leaving the country that I learned the existence of sculptured rocks on the banks of the Columbia. Mr. Drayton was unable to remain many moments at the spot, and among a considerable variety of figures he obtained only a rapid sketch of three of them. The importance of

كالة

the subject, however, has appeared to me to warrant the insertion of a copy in this place. And it will be observed, that the figures are simple, and present some analogy to the sculptures found on the Orinoco, as given by Humboldt.

MEXICO.

It is said that the aboriginal stock so preponderates in Mexico, that the people do not "regard themselves nationally as belonging to the white race." I have myself seen but very few Mexicans, and these have been chiefly of pure Spanish descent. In two or three individuals of mixed race, met with in the United States, the Mongolian traits were sufficiently obvious. On the other hand, a Mexican of some note from the province of Sonora, whom I saw in California, was scarcely distinguishable, in his personal appearance, from the pure Malay. I have, therefore, positive evidence of the aboriginal presence of two races in Mexico, though in what proportions I am altogether uncertain.†

Some travellers in Mexico have spoken of a "large admixture of the Negro race;" but as true negroes are at the same time admitted to be rare, the opinion may have

* See Ethnography of the Expedition, p. 224.

In the Letters of Cortes, mention is made of "albinoes having apartments in the palace of Montezuma." This point may have some bearing on the question at issue; for I have heard of the occurrence of albinoes in the Malay race, but not among Mongolians.

reference to the Malay stock. A distinction m personal appearance is also said to exist "between the inhabitants of the table-land and those of the low country." The "Mexican of Mechoacan," figured by Humboldt, is evidently Mongolian. I confess, therefore, that the distribution given on the accompanying map, of the two races in Mexico, is not entirely satisfactory.

YUCATAN.

Some bas-reliefs from Palenque, in Yucatan, now deposited in Washington, contain a human profile: and it is eminently characteristic of the Mongolian, and seems decisive as to the physical race of the people who reared the remarkable ancient structures discovered in that part of America.

NORTH-EAST AMERICA.

The aboriginals of the United States have appeared to me in every respect physically identical with their brethren west of the Rocky Mountains. They have, however, a marked superiority of stature; and they do not in point of size, fall below Europeans.

I have seen examples of the tribes of the MISSOURI and Upper Mississippi, in the delegations which, from time to time, have visited Washington: as, Menomenies, Winnebagoes, Sauks and Foxes, Sioux, Pawnees, Otoes, Miamies, and Iowas. I have been interested in hearing the Missouri drum and flute; and have felt regret that no one should have turned his attention to the preservation of the music of this fading people. I saw neither musical instruments nor dancing among the Oregon tribes; nor anything like pottery; such as is used by the aboriginals of our Southern States.

I have also seen CREES, from the centre of the Continent, north of the waters of the Missouri, where the same superiority of stature appears likewise to prevail. The UPSAROKA, or Crows of the head-waters of the Missouri and Yellowstone, are also to be ranked among the Eastern tribes; and, judging from a portrait at Washington, they belong to the Mongolian race.

IROQUOIS formed part of the crew of the Hudson's Bay

Company's steamboat at Nisqually; and I saw one of them employed in building operations near the Fort. I once also met with a man of this tribe, in western New York. The only DELAWARE I have ever seen, had been brought up among Whites. To a resident of Philadelphia, it was almost startling, to hear of this tribe in Oregon joining the Blackfeet in hostile incursions into that country.

I once visited the NATICK tribe, residing within a few miles of Boston; and found them few in number, and much intermixed with Negroes. I recently fell in with a party of PENOBSCOTS, on their return from a visit to Boston. They had tents; and the women were neatly dressed, and all industriously occupied, chiefly in weaving baskets of various pattern, which they disposed of by the way. Several could speak English; and on asking one of them about her journey, she replied in a low voice, and with an anxious look, "The country is too full!" I saw no marks of Negro admixture; but those of European were sufficiently obvious. They were all fairer than the usual aboriginal standard; and one of the men was in no respect distinguishable from a European.

The SEMINOLES, I have been informed, "mix with Negroes, but are careful to keep the children out of sight." I have never seen Seminoles, but from portraits and descriptions, I am satisfied that they belong to the Mongolian race. I may say the same of the CREEKS; in regard to whom, however, I have fewer materials for forming an opinion.

The aboriginals of our Eastern States have been suffered to pass away, with little care taken to preserve a record of their attainments, and the arts in their possession. Another century, and of their implements, stone hatchets and arrowheads will almost alone be left, to tell that such a people has existed.

Figures of human heads have been obtained by Mr. Squier from the ANCIENT MOUNDS of the Ohio, and the features are unequivocally those of the Mongolian race. The various accompanying articles (such as pipes, representations of the toad, deer, puma, &c.) afford another instance of the universal rule in monumental history, that the most ancient works are not only the most gigantic and enduring, but they manifest great refinement of workmanship, and purity of taste.