To me the _Indians_ of _America_ seem to be some of the Posterity of _Shem_, driven thither by _Providence_, for Causes unknown to us, which might easily be done (in large Boats or Canoes and Periaguas) from the Eastern Parts of _Asia_, their Grandfather _Jocktan_'s Country; which is not improbable: Since a Storm might drive them off from the Shore, and the trade Winds, which blow constantly one Way half the Year, might carry them directly to _America_, over the vast _South Sea_ Ocean; in which Passage their greatest Danger of Death might be Hunger and Thirst; but they, that know the _Indians_, know also, that they can bear Want a prodigious while; and what might they not bear, when the Divine Power was miraculously concerned in it, for Purposes known to the Almighty only? Indeed for what we have yet discovered, we don't know, but the Continent of _America_ may be join'd to _Tartary_; from whence (if so) they might have an easy, though tedious Conveyance. Be it how it will, I am of Opinion, that they are descended from _Asia_, and not _Africa_; because in their copper Colour, long black Hair, strait proper Shape, and haughty Carriage, they are somewhat like the _East-Indians_; whereas they seem to be of a different Breed from the _Negroes_, who are blacker, have uglier Faces and Bodies, and are of a more servile Carriage, and slavish Temper: Besides, the _Africans_ circumcise, which with other _Jewish_ Customs, I imagine, they may derive from _Egypt_; whereas the _Indians_ use no such Practices: Moreover they hate, and despise the very Sight of a _Negroe_; but they seem to like an _East-Indian_, and fear and revere the _Whites_. What some may object in Contradiction to the Universality of the Deluge; that the Communication between _Asia_ and _America_ was washed away by it; thence inferring that the _Americans_ are of _Antidiluvian_ Families, may (I presume) be exploded, when we remark, that in most Places, at a great Depth, and far distant from the Sea, are many great Beds of strange Shells, and Bones, and Teeth of Fish and Beasts vastly different from any Land or Water-Animals now found in those, or any other Parts of the World; so that notwithstanding all the curious Speculations of Philosophers to reconcile this with Reason, and ascribe for it natural Causes; yet to me it appears evidently to be a Token, and Relict of the general Flood of _Noah_. For these Shells and Bones might be easily preserved from Corruption, and mouldering so long a Time, whilst covered with a great Thickness of dry Earth, and kept from Air; to which when they are exposed they soon decay.