Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 422: Volume 17, New Series, January 31, 1852 — John Shaqi
Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 422: Volume 17, New Series, January 31, 1852Various
General
Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 422: Volume 17, New Series, January 31, 1852
Various
Periodicals
resemble the Oriental branches of the great Semitic family; and the
evidence shews that originally they crossed over from Asia at
Behring's Strait, a voyage still performed in canoes to the present
day. One of the titles of Montezuma was Lord of the Seven Caves; and
the caves in which tradition says the traverse took place, are taken
to be the caves or subterranean abodes still used by the Aleutian
islanders. This was current among the Aztecs in 1519, and the voyage
of the United States' Exploring Expedition has furnished a
philological proof of connection, in the peculiar termination of nouns
in _tl_, which is common to the inhabitants of Nootka Sound, as it was
to the Aztecs. The more the Indians are studied, the more does
everything about them appear to be Eastern--their language, religion,
calendar, architecture, &c. Their worship of fire in the open air,
avoiding the use of temples, is precisely that of Zoroaster, as is
also their leading doctrine of two spirits--good and evil--ruling the
world; and the allegory of the _egg of Ormuzd_ has been found in an
earthwork on the top of a hill in Adams's County, Ohio. 'It represents
the coil of a serpent, 700 feet long, but it is thought would reach,
if deprived of its curves, 1000 feet. The jaws of the serpent are
represented as widely distended, as if in the act of swallowing. In
the interstice is an oval or egg-shaped mound.' This repetition of a
symbol is considered as further proof of Eastern derivation.
Do not suppose, however, that this is a sample of the whole volume,
for ample details and information are given on all matters connected
with the Indians--their arts, habits, pursuits, pictorial literature
(so to speak), sports, and agriculture. Some idea of their
capabilities in husbandry may be gathered from the fact, that in
Michigan, ancient 'garden-beds' have been discovered, extending for
150 miles along the banks of rivers. Students will find a mine of
information in this book, which, though but the first of a series,
contains nearly 600 pages--a rare feast for ethnologists.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account