some discern the hand of the philosopher, and others only the spontaneous efforts of the savage.*

The etymological affinities detected with the ancient continent are not very numerous, and they are drawn indiscriminately from all the tribes scattered over America. On the whole, more analogies have been found with the idioms of Asia, than with those of any other quarter. But their amount is too inconsiderable to balance the opposite conclusion inferred by a total dissimilarity of structure.† A remarkable exception is found in the Othomi or Otomie language, which covers a wider territory than any other but the Mexican, in New Spain;‡ and which, both in its monosyllabic composition, so different from those around it, and in its vocabulary, shows a very singular affinity to the Chinese. The existence of this insulated idiom, in the

combinations so easily, that the most simple ideas are often buried under a load of accessories. The forms of expression, though picturesque, were thus made exceedingly cumbrous. A "priest," for example, was called notlazomahuizteopixcatatzin, meaning "venerable minister of God, that I love as my father." A still more comprehensive word is amatlacuilolitquitcatlaxtlahuitli, signifying "the reward given to a messenger who bears a hieroglyphical map conveying intelligence."

* See, in particular, for the latter view of the subject, the arguments of Mr. Gallatin, in his acute and masterly disquisition (on the Indian tribes; a disquisition) that throws more light on the intricate topics of which it treats, than whole volumes that have preceded it.-Transactions of the American Antiquarian Society, vol. ii., Introd., sec. 6.

This comparative anatomy of the languages of the two hemispheres, begun by Barton, (Origin of the Tribes and Nations of America, [Philadelphia, 1797,]) has been extended by Vater (Mithridates, theil iii. abtheil 1, p. 348, et seq.) A selection of the most striking analogies may be found, also, in Malte-Brun, book 75, table.

Othomi from otho, "stationary," and mi, "nothing." (Najera, Dissert., ut infra.) The etymology intimates the condition of this rude nation of warriors, who, imperfectly reduced by the Aztec arms, roamed over the high lands north of the Valley of Mexico.

§ See Najera's Dissertatio De Lingua Othomitorum, ap. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, vol. 5, New Series. The author, a

t of this vast continent, offers a curious theme for ulation, entirely beyond the province of history. he American languages, so numerous and widely diver1, present an immense field of inquiry, which, notwithing the labours of several distinguished philologists, ins yet to be explored. It is only after a large arison of examples that conclusions founded on analogy e trusted. The difficulty of making such comparisons ases with time, from the facility which the peculiar ture of the Indian languages affords for new combina; while the insensible influence of contact with civilised in producing these, must lead to a still further distrust - conclusions.

theory of an Asiatic origin for Aztec civilisation s stronger confirmation from the light of tradition, . shining steadily from the far North-west, pierces h the dark shadows that history and mythology have hrown around the antiquities of the country. Tradiof a Western or North-western origin were found the more barbarous tribes,* and by the Mexicans reserved both orally and in their hieroglyphical maps, the different stages of their migration are carefully But who at this day shall read them?† They are

Mexican, has given a most satisfactory analysis of this remarkable , which stands alone among the idioms of the New World, as the -the solitary wreck, perhaps, of a primitive age-exists among the Old.

ton, p. 92.-Heckewelder, chap. 1., ap. Transactions of the Hist. Committee of the Am. Phil. Soc., vol. i. The various traditions 1 assembled by M. Warden, in the Antiquités Mexicaines, part 2, t seq.

recent work of Mr. Delafield (Inquiry into the Origin of the es of America, [Cincinnati, 1839,]) has an engraving of one of ps, said to have been obtained by Mr. Bullock, from Boturini's

Two such are specified on page 10 of that antiquary's Cata

*

admitted to agree, however, in representing the populous North as the prolific hive of the American races. In this quarter were placed their Aztlan and their Huehuetapallan ; the bright abodes of their ancestors, whose warlike exploits rivalled those which the Teutonic nations have recorded of Odin and the mythic heroes of Scandinavia. From this quarter the Toltecs, the Chichemecs, and the kindred races of the Nahuatlacs, came successively up the great plateau of the Andes, spreading over its hills and valleys, down to the Gulf of Mexico.†

Antiquaries have industriously sought to detect some still surviving traces of these migrations. In the north-western districts of New Spain, at a thousand miles' distance from the capital, dialects have been discovered, showing intimate

the rudest character. We may recognise, indeed, the symbols of some dates and places, with others denoting the aspect of the country, whether fertile or barren, a state of war or peace, &c. But it is altogether too vague, and we know too little of the allusions, to gather any knowledge from it of the course of the Aztec migration. Gemelli Carreri's celebrated chart contains the names of many places on the route, interpreted, perhaps, by Siguenza himself, to whom it belonged; (Giro del Mondo, tom. vi. p. 56;) and Clavigero has endeavoured to ascertain the various localities with some precision. (Stor. del Messico, tom. i. p. 160, et seq.) But, as they are all within the boundaries of New Spain, and, indeed, south of the Rio Gila, they throw little light, of course, on the vexed question of the primitive abodes of the Aztecs.

This may be fairly inferred from the agreement of the traditionary interpretations of the maps of the various people of Anahuac, according to Veytia; who, however, admits that it is "next to impossible," with the lights of the present day, to determine the precise route taken by the Mexicans. (Hist. Antig., tom. i. cap. 2.) Lorenzana is not so modest. "Los Mexicanos por tradicion viniéron por el norte," says he, " y se saben ciertamente sus mansiones." (Hist. de Nueva España, p. 81, nota.) There are some antiquaries who see best in the dark.

Ixtlilxochitl, Hist. Chich., MS., cap. 2, et seq.-Idem, Relaciones, MS.-Veytia, Hist. Antig., ubi supra.-Torquemada, Monarch. Ind., tom. i. lib. 1.

he conclusions suggested by the intellectual and moral ogies with Eastern Asia derive considerable support from of a physical nature. The aborigines of the Western

n the province of Sonora, especially along the Californian Gulf. The anguage, above all, of which a regular grammar has been published, hich is spoken in New Biscay, about 30° north, so much resembles exican, that Vater refers them both to a common stock.-Mithridates, i. abtheil 3, p. 143.

On the southern bank of this river are ruins of large dimensions, ed by the missionary Pedro Font, on his visit there, in 1775. . of Mexico, vol. vi. p. 538.) At a place of the same name, Casas es, about 33° north, and, like the former, a supposed station of the still more extensive remains are to be found; large enough, indeed, ng to a late traveller, Lieut. Hardy, for a population of 20,000 or souls. The country for leagues is covered with these remains as with utensils of earthenware, obsidian, and other relics. A drawing, he author has given of a painted jar or vase, may remind one of uscan. "There were, also, good specimens of earthen images in ptian style," he observes, "which are, to me, at least, so perfectly esting, that I was at no pains to procure any of them." (Travels nterior of Mexico, [London, 1829,] pp. 464-466.) The Lieutenant ther a Boturini nor a Belzoni.

ter has examined the languages of three of these nations, between 1 60° north, and collated their vocabularies with the Mexican, the probability of a common origin of many of the words in each.

World were distinguished by certain peculiarities of organisation, which have led physiologists to regard them as a separate race. These peculiarities are shown in their reddish complexion, approaching a cinnamon colour; their straight, black, and exceedingly glossy hair; their beard thin, and usually eradicated ;* their high cheek-bones, eyes obliquely directed towards the temples, prominent noses, and narrow foreheads, falling backwards with a greater inclination than those of any other race except the African.† From this general standard, however, there are deviations, in the same manner, if not to the same extent, as in other quarters of the globe, though these deviations do not seem to be influenced by the same laws of local position.‡ Anatomists, also, have discerned in crania disinterred. from the mounds, and in those of the inhabitants of the high plains of the Cordilleras, an obvious difference from those of the more barbarous tribes. This is seen especially in the ampler forehead, intimating a decided intellectual superiority.§ These characteristics are found to bear a

The Mexicans are noticed by M. de Humboldt, as distinguished from the other aborigines, whom he had seen, by the quantity both of heard and moustaches. (Essai Politique, tom. i. p. 361.) The modern Mexican, however, broken in spirit and fortunes, bears as little resemblance, probably, in physical, as in moral characteristics, to his ancestors, the fierce and independent Aztecs.

Prichard, Physical History, vol. i. pp. 167-169, 182, et seq.-Morton, Crania Americana, p. 66.-M'Culloch, Researches, p. 18.--Lawrence, Lectures, pp. 317, 565.

Thus we find, amidst the generally prevalent copper or cinnamon tint, nearly all gradations of colour, from the European white, to a black, almost African; while the complexion capriciously varies among different tribes, in the neighbourhood of each other. See examples in Humboldt. (Essai Politique, tom. i. pp. 358, 359,) also Prichard, (Physical History, vol. ii. pp. 452, 522, et alibi,) a writer, whose various research and dispassionate judgment have made his work a text-book in this department of science.

Such is the conclusion of Dr. Warren, whose excellent collection has afforded him ample means for study and comparison. (See his Remarks