i have the pleasure of laying before the new york historical society a brief account of the progress which has been made during the past year towards extending our knowledge of the globe, particularly with reference to its geography, and to those nations whose history is imperfectly known. the subject is one that more properly belongs to ethnology, but the historical results which are deduced from these enquiries come within the scope of the objects, the elucidation of which belongs to this society.
a new impulse has lately been given to the study of american antiquities. a brief account of recent investigations carried on in a portion of the west and south will show that we possess much that is interesting, and which will throw light on a neglected branch of aboriginal history and ethnology.
every enquirer into the origin and purposes of the monuments and ancient remains of the mississippi valley has regretted the limited number and poorly attested character of the facts, of which the public are in possession, respecting them. the practical investigations made from time to time by various individuals, have not been sufficiently thorough and extensive, nor have they developed sufficient data to warrant or sustain any definite or satisfactory conclusions. they have served rather to provoke enquiries which they could in no degree satisfy,[4] than to afford information on the subject with which they were connected.
it was under a strong sense of the deficiencies in our stock of information in this branch of knowledge, that two gentlemen of chillicothe, ohio, dr. davis and mr. e.g. squier, undertook the exploration of the ancient remains which abound in the state of ohio, and particularly of those in the valley of the scioto river.
it is known that there exists in this region vast numbers of mounds, of various dimensions, and extensive embankments of earth, enclosing in some instances many acres of ground. beside these there are ditches, walls, causeways and other works of a greater or less extent. the examination of these, by opening the mounds, and making accurate surveys of the other works constitute the labors of these gentlemen, some of the results of which may be stated in anticipation of a full account which will shortly appear.
though their labors at first promised to end in increased doubt and uncertainty, they were abundantly rewarded as their enquiries progressed. out of confusion, system began to develope itself, and what seemed accidents, were found to be characteristics. what was regarded as anomalous, was recognized as a type and feature of a class, and apparent coincidences became proofs of design.
for instance, it was remarked among the numerous tumuli opened, that certain ones were stratified, while others were homogeneous in their composition. further observation showed that stratified tumuli occupy a certain fixed position with regard to other works, which the unstratified tumuli do not. still further examinations demonstrated that the contents of those respective tumuli are radically and invariably different. here then was established: 1st. that the mounds are not, as is generally supposed, identical in character and purpose. 2d. that one class occupies a fixed position with regard to works of a different character, the design of which is to be[5] determined, to some degree, by the peculiarities and the contents of this description of mounds, etc.
it will be seen, at once, that a close observation of facts of this kind is absolutely essential, to arrive at any reasonable conclusions, regarding the purposes of these ancient structures, their origin, or the character or customs of the people by whom they were built. the investigations of dr. davis and mr. squier, were therefore conducted so as to permit the escape of no fact which might tend to elucidate the mystery in which our antiquities are shrouded. the excavations were made under their personal direction, and the results may be briefly stated, without detailing the facts in support of each conclusion, as follows.
the number of enclosures or earthworks which have been surveyed by them, and of which they have taken careful admeasurements, exceeds ninety. the number of tumuli which have been excavated and their characteristics noted, amounts to one hundred and fifteen.
of the first class of works, it has been sufficiently demonstrated, that a small proportion were intended for works of defence; that another portion were sacred places, or in some way connected with religious or superstitious rites, while a third and much the larger number are entirely inexplicable in our present state of information.
the tumuli are divided into three grand classes, which are broadly marked in the aggregate, though there are individual instances of an anomalous character. these are:
1st. tumuli of sepulture, each containing a single skeleton enclosed in a rude, wooden coffin, or an envelope of bark or matting, and occurring in isolated or detached groups.
2d. tumuli of sacrifice, containing symmetrical altars of stone or burnt clay, occurring within or in the immediate vicinity of enclosures, and always stratified.[6]
3d. places of observation, or mounds raised upon elevated or commanding positions.
within these monuments have been found implements and ornaments of silver, copper, lead, stone, ivory and pottery, fashioned into a thousand forms, and evincing a skill in art, to which the existing race of indians, at the time of their discovery, could not approach. marine shells, mica from the primitive regions, native copper from the shores of lake superior, galena from the upper mississippi, cetacean teeth, pearls and instruments of obsidian, show the extent of communication and intercourse had by the authors of these ancient works. sculptures of animals, birds and reptiles have been found in great numbers and variety, exhibiting a skill which few could now surpass. also, sculptures of the human head, disclosing most probably the character of the physiognomy, as well as the manner of adjusting the hair, the head dress and ornaments of the mound-builders. careful admeasurements of the earth works which abound in the ohio valley, have been made by the gentlemen alluded to, in which the interesting fact has been developed, that many of them are perfect circles and squares, and hence that the people by whom they were constructed had some means of determining angles and of constructing circles. in some of those earth-heaps, sufficient remains to show that when in a perfect state, they resembled the teocallis or terraced edifices of mexico and yucatan, though they were composed wholly of wood and earth.
the number of works manifestly connected in some way with their religion, guide us to some estimate of the prominence which their superstitions occupied, and that a religious system existed among them, in some degree resembling that of the ancient mexicans. the immense tumuli heaped over the remains of the dead, show the regard which they attached to their chiefs, and the veneration in which they held their memory. the number and extent of their remains of all kinds, which occupy[7] the fertile valleys, and which are confined almost entirely to them, indicate that an immense population once existed there, that it was stationary and therefore agricultural;[1] and if agricultural and stationary, that a different organization of society, different manners and customs, different impulses and feelings existed among them, than are to be found among the hunter and nomadic tribes, discovered by europeans in possession of the country.
another class of antiquities has been discovered by these gentlemen, of which we only have the particulars in a letter. these consist of rocks sculptured with figures of men, of birds and animals. they are cut in outline, the lines being from one half to three quarters of an inch deep by about the same width. only those on the sides of the rocks are visible. those on the upper or horizontal faces are nearly obliterated. one represents an elk and is said to be very spirited.
what may result from the future researches of dr. davis and mr. squier, remains to be seen; but sufficient has been developed to show that a people, radically different from the existing race of indians, once occupied the valley of the mississippi, and built the singular monuments in which it abounds. these also show that they were to a certain extent advanced in the arts and civilization. in short that they closely resembled in the character of their structures, ornaments and implements of war and husbandry, the races of central america; if they were not indeed their progenitors or an offshoot from them. many facts strongly point to such a conclusion and farther observations carefully conducted, will probably enable us to settle the question beyond a doubt.[8]
a detailed account of the researches of the gentlemen alluded to, accompanied by numerous engravings representing the implements, ornaments and sculptures, &c., discovered in their excavations;—surveys of the various earth works, forts and enclosures in the scioto valley, will be given in the second volume of the transactions of the american ethnological society, now preparing for publication. they are still actively engaged in their labors, and intend, should the facilities be extended them to carry on their operations, to examine every ancient relic to be found in ohio and the adjacent parts, where these remains exist.
among the explorations which have been carried on in the united states, none possess a greater interest than those of dr. m.w. dickeson, in the south western states, chiefly in mississippi, though in some instances extending to alabama, louisiana, and texas. dr. dickeson has laid open or examined one hundred and fifty mounds and tumuli, of various dimensions and collected a vast number of interesting relics, which illustrate the customs and arts of the ancient people who built them. the mounds vary from three to ninety feet in height, and from twelve to three hundred feet in diameter at the base. the seltzer town mound contains a superficies of eight acres on its summit. on digging into it vast quantities of human skeletons were found, chiefly with their heads flattened, and measuring generally six feet in length. numerous specimens of pottery, including finely finished vases filled with pigments, ashes, ornaments, and beads, were also found.
the north side of this mound is supported with a wall two feet thick, of sun dried bricks, filled with grass, rushes and leaves. in order to ascertain whether this immense tumulus was artificial or not, dr. benbrook, sank a shaft forty two feet, and found it artificial or made ground to that depth. immense quantities of bones, both of men and animals, among the latter the head of a huge bear,[9] were thrown out. other excavations were made in this tumulus with the same result, thus showing it to have been a vast mausoleum or cemetery of the ancient race.
the mounds are generally in systems varying from seven to ten, which dr. dickeson has divided into six classes as follows: out post, ramparts or walls, telegraphs or look outs, temples, cemeteries, and tent mounds. the first is seldom more than thirty feet at the base by ten feet high. their shape varies, presenting sometimes a pyramid, at others a cone, or rhomboid. walls surround the second class, which are from ten to fifteen feet in heighth, the same across the top, and from forty to fifty feet at the base.
the "look out" mounds are seldom under sixty feet high. of this class, dr. dickeson has examined upwards of ninety. they are generally on the summit of a hill, overlooking the bottom lands. here they stand some three hundred feet above the bottom lands, commanding an extensive prospect, and in some instances one may see the peaks of several systems of mounds in the distance.
the "temple mounds" are seldom more than twenty feet high, and stratified with ashes, loam, gravel, &c. they all have an earthen floor. dr. dickeson has, but in a single instant, found a skeleton in these mounds, and in this, he thinks the subject a choctaw indian recently placed there. it lay in a horizontal position, differing from the usual mode of burial, which is the sitting posture.
the "cemeteries" are oval, and from six to ten feet high, filled with bones, lying east and west, and when incased in sarcophagi, the rows run in the same direction. in some instances dr. dickeson found the bones lying in heaps, promiscuously. these he believes to have been the canaille.
the "tent or structure mounds" are small, and a short distance below their surface, fragments of brick and cement are found in great quantities; sometimes skeletons and pottery. never more than six skeletons are found together, and more care is shown in the burial of these[10] than in the "cemetery mounds." in one instance an angular tumulus was seen by the doctor, with the corners quite perfect, formed of large bricks, bearing the impression of an extended hand.[2]
many mounds and tumuli are advantageously situated on the tops of ridges, surrounded with walls. some of the latter have crumbled away, while others remain strong and perpendicular. in many instances, the walls that surround these groups of mounds, form perfect squares and circles. dr. dickeson adds that, "if from the centre of one of these groups a circle were traced, it would strike the centre of each mound, both large and small." they contain numerous fragments of walls, images, pottery, ornaments, etc. etc.
the "temples" are generally situated among the hills and ravines, with perpendicular escarpments, improved by artificial fortifications. the enclosures often embrace upwards of thirty acres. the great enclosure at "the trinity" contains upwards of one hundred and fifty acres, and is partially faced with sundried brick. upon the plantation of mr. chamberlain in mississippi, the temple is flanked with several bastions, besides squares, parallels, half moons, and ravines with perpendicular escarpments for its defence. the ditches and small lakes are frequently chained for miles and filled with water, intended, the doctor thinks, for outworks. in these, bricks are found both at the bottom and on the sides. among the rubbish and vegetable deposits taken from them to put on the land, ornaments, and other relics are found.
wells and reservoirs, completely walled with burnt clay,[11] are found in louisiana; near which are "systems," or groups of mounds so regular and strongly fortified, that they became the retreat of pirates and robbers who infested the rivers, greatly disturbing the early settlers, after the massacre of the natchez indians by the french. the natchez built large dikes or ditches, and upon the counterscarp piled up huge ramparts, which they made almost impregnable, by having one side flanked by the slope of a hill, surrounded by precipices. they are sometimes situated on the level "bottoms."[3] in these cases one side invariably faces a creek or bayou, or is in its bend, making the creek serve as a formidable ditch, offering a serious impediment to an enemy's approach. the other two sides are protected by parallel walls or half moons, with gateways leading to the citadel. these walls have indications of having been faced with dry masonry. the east and west corners are generally flanked with a small oval mound.
in these tumuli and mounds numerous ornaments and pottery were found by dr. dickeson, buried with the occupants, such as idols, clay stamps, mica mirrors, stone axes, and arrow heads, silver and copper ornaments, rings, beads of jasper, chalcedony, agate, &c., similar to those found in peru and mexico. several pearls of great beauty and lustre, an inch in diameter, have been found. by an examination of the skulls, dr. d. discovered that dentistry had been extensively practised by this ancient people, as plugging the teeth, and inserting artificial ones, was common. in one instance, five artificial teeth were found inserted in one subject. ovens were found containing pottery partially baked, three feet below the surface, with large trees covering them, exhibiting an age of upwards of five hundred years. magazines of arrow[12] points, in one instance a "wagon body full," (about twenty bushels), lying within the space of a few feet. in a small mound in adams county, dr. d. found three large jars holding upwards of ten gallons of arrow points elaborately finished; and three similar in dimensions and finish, have lately been received by dr. morton, of philadelphia, from south carolina. carvings representing the english bull dog, the camel and lama, have been found by dr. dickeson, from forty to sixty feet below the surface of the mound. the bricks, to which allusion has been made, are of various colors; some of a bright red, others dark brown, various shades of purple and yellow. forty stamps of baked clay, containing a variety of figures used for stamping their skins. pieces of coin, two of which found near natches, had the figure of a bird on one side, and on the reverse an animal.
the pottery found is quite extensive, some mounds have been opened in which were upwards of sixty vases, some quite plain, and others elaborately ornamented. of the pottery, dr. dickeson has succeeded in getting upwards of a hundred fine specimens to philadelphia, which are deposited with his other indian relics and fossils, in the museum of the academy of natural sciences.
dr. dickeson has kindly furnished me a catalogue of his collection of relics, from which i have selected the following to give an idea of the extent and variety of the objects found:
6000 arrow points of jasper, chalcedony, obsidian, quartz, &c., &c.
150 arrow points, finely polished, under one inch in length.
25 arrow points, finely polished, under half an inch in
length.
1600 unfinished arrow and spear points.
250 small stone axes.
40 quoits, weights, &c.
20 paint mullers.
[13]
10 corn grinders.
3 large stone mortars.
14 small earthen heads of men, women and boys.
6 stone statues, erect and sitting.
a great variety of personal ornaments of jasper, chalcedony, pottery, beads, pearls, war clubs, war axes, mica mirrors, carved ornaments, arm bracelets, bone carvings, earthen plates, handled saucers, earthen lamps, a variety of vessels for culinary purposes, stone chisels, two copper medals, the tusk of a mastodon, six feet long, elaborately carved with a serpent and human figures; cylindrical tubes of jasper perforated, ornaments in pumice, (lava), seals, bricks, jars, cups and vases in every variety.
in addition to these, dr. dickeson has made a collection of upwards of sixty crania of the ancient mound builders, out of many thousand skeletons discovered by him in his several explorations. these possess much interest in an ethnographic point of view, for the rigid test to which all his results have been subjected, have satisfied him that these skulls belong to the ancient race. like the gentlemen in ohio, whose labors have been noticed, the doctor can at once detect the mounds and remains of the ancient, from those of the modern race. some mounds he has found to be the work of three periods. at the top were the remains of the present race of indians; digging lower he found these remains accompanied by ancient spanish relics, of the period of the earliest spanish visit to these parts; and below these, he discovered the remains and relics of the ancient race.
the inscribed tablet discovered in the grave-creek mound, virginia, and which was noticed by mr. schoolcraft in the first volume of the transactions of the american ethnological society, continues to excite much interest. mr. jomard of the french institute, read a second paper on that subject last year, before the academy of inscriptions and belles-lettres at paris, a copy of which[14] he has transmitted to the society.[4] he distinctly shows, that the letters of this curious inscription are identically the same as those of the libyan on the monument of thugga,[5] and of the tuarycks used at this day. it is worthy of remark, that mr. hodgson in his "notes on africa,"[6] arrived at the same conclusion, without the knowledge that mr. jomard, some years previously, had asserted the libyan character of this inscription, in a first note on the subject.[7] such a coincidence gives force to the views adopted by both these gentlemen. the results to which the french savant has arrived, in his enquiry into this engraved stone or tablet, possess much interest, as it is the only relic yet discovered in north america, of an inscription bearing alphabetic characters,[8] which have been satisfactorily identified as such. this numidian inscription, which title we may now apply to the engraved tablet in question, will be again alluded to, when we come to speak of the philological discoveries in northern africa, and of the libyan alphabet.
in conclusion mr. jomard observes, that at a remote period the libyan language was spoken by various tribes in northern africa, and that it was a language written[15] with characters, such as we now find on the thugga edifice and other monuments; that it is still written with the same characters, particularly in the vicinity of fezzan and in the deserts traversed by the tuarycks, although this method of writing has been to so great an extent supplanted by arabic letters that we must consider the berber language, the language of syouah, sokna, audjelah, and gherma, as representing the remains of the ancient libyan language in use in the most remote period; and finally, that in the interior of america, on a monument of which the age is unknown, but anterior to the settlement by europeans, we find an engraved stone, bearing signs perfectly resembling the characters traced by the modern tuarycks and by their ancestors, upon the rocks of libya. mr. jomard's pamphlet contains an engraved table, in which are given, in parallel columns, the characters on the american tablet, the tuaryck alphabet, the thugga characters, and their value in hebrew and arabic.
in connexion with this subject it may be added, that m. berthelot, a learned traveller, states that there exists a striking affinity between the names of places and of men in the ancient language of the canaries and certain carib words.[9] the contiguity of the canaries to the african continent is such, that we can readily suppose their ancient inhabitants to have had communication with it, whereby the libyan language became known to them. a new field of enquiry is thus opened to philologists, and we may here seek for the means to unravel one of the most difficult questions connected with the origin of the american race, and the means by which they reached this continent, for we never have been among those who believed that america derived the mass of her population, her men and animals, from asia, by the way of behring's straits.
the author of a late work on california, new mexico, &c., brings to our notice a tribe of indians known as the[16] munchies (mawkeys) or white indians.[10] "this remarkable nation occupies a valley among the sierra de los mimbros chain of mountains, upon one of the affluents of the river gila, in the extreme northwestern part of the province of sonora. they number about eight hundred persons. their country is surrounded by lofty mountains at nearly every point, is well watered and very fertile. their dwellings are excavated in the hill-sides, and frequently cut in the solid rock. they subsist by agriculture, and raise great numbers of horses, cattle and sheep. among them are many of the arts and comforts of civilized life. they spin and weave, and make butter and cheese, with many of the luxuries known to more enlightened nations. their government is after the patriarchal order, and is purely republican in its character. in morals they are represented as honest and virtuous. in religion they differ but little from other indians. their features correspond with those of europeans, with a fair complexion and a form equally if not more graceful. in regard to their origin, they have lost all knowledge or even tradition; neither do their characters, manners, customs, arts or government savor of modern europe."
another tribe of indians called the navijos, of whom we know but little, except that they have long had a place on the maps, is noticed by the same author. they occupy the country between the del norte and the sierra anahuac, in the province of sonora, and have never succumbed to spanish domination. "they possess a civilization of their own. most of them live in houses built of stone, and cultivate the ground—raising vegetables and grain for a subsistence. they also raise large numbers of horses, cattle and sheep—make butter and cheese, and spin and weave."
the blankets manufactured by these indians are supe[17]rior in beauty of color, texture and durability to the fabrics of their spanish neighbors. their government is in strict accordance with the welfare of the whole community. dishonesty is held in check by suitable regulations, industry is encouraged by general consent, and hospitality by common practice. as warriors they are brave and daring, making frequent and bold excursions into the spanish settlements, driving off herds of cattle, horses and sheep, and spreading terror and dismay on every side. as diplomatists, in imitation of their neighbors, they make and break treaties whenever interest and inclination prompts them.[11]
the navijo country is shut in by high mountains, inaccessible from without, except by limited passes through narrow defiles, well situated for defence on the approach of an invading foe. availing themselves of these natural advantages, they have continued to maintain their ground against fearful odds, nor have they suffered the spaniards to set foot within their territory as conquerors.
the relations above given of the mawkeys and navijos (pronounced navihoes, and sometimes so written), correspond with the accounts that from time to time have been brought to us, by hunters and trappers who have occasionally visited them. a few years since there appeared in the newspapers an account of both these tribes, by a trapper. he stated that the mawkeys had "light, flaxen hair, blue eyes and skins of the most delicate whiteness."[12] i have two other accounts wherein both are described much as before stated. their manufactures are particularly dwelt upon. some of them wore shoes, stockings and other garments of their own make. their stone houses are noticed as well as their large herds of cattle,—also their cultivation of fruits and vegetables. they raise[18] cotton, which they manufacture into cloth, as well as wool. fire arms are unknown to them. "their dress is different from that of other indians, and from their spanish neighbors. their shirts, coats and waistcoats are made of wool, and their small clothes and gaiters of deer skin."
these accounts might be considered fanciful, had we not high authority which fully corroborates them. humboldt says, "the indians between the rivers gila and colorado, form a contrast with the wandering and distrustful indians of the savannas to the east of new mexico. father garces visited the country of the moqui, and was astonished to find there an indian town with two great squares, houses of several stories, and streets well laid out, and parallel to one another. the construction of the edifices of the moqui is the same with that of the casas grandes on the banks of the gila."[13]
in mr. farnham's late work on california, is a notice of the navijos from dr. lyman's report. the author begins by saying, that "they are the most civilized of all the wild indians of north america."[14] their extensive cultivation of maize and all kinds of vegetables—their rearing of "large droves of magnificent horses, equal to the finest horses of the united states in appearance and value," and their large flocks of sheep are also noticed. from the fleece of the sheep which is long and coarse resembling mohair, "they manufacture blankets of a texture so firm and heavy as to be perfectly impervious to water." they make a variety of colors with which they dye their cloths, besides weaving them in stripes and figures. they are constantly at war with the mexicans, but stand in fear of the american trappers, with whom[19] they have had some severe skirmishes, which resulted much to their disadvantage.[15]
it is believed by baron humboldt and by others, that in the navijos and mawkeys we see the descendants of the same race of indians which cortez and the spanish conquerors found in mexico, in a semi-civilized state. we are unable to state whether any affinity exists between their language and the other mexican dialects, as no vocabularies have been collected. the whiteness of their skins, their knowledge of the useful arts and agriculture, and the mechanical skill exhibited in their edifices at the present day, bear a striking analogy with the mexican people at the period of the conquest, and as m. humboldt observes, "appears to announce traces of the cultivation of the ancient mexicans." the indians have a tradition that 20 leagues north from the moqui, near the mouth of the rio zaguananas, the banks of the nabajoa were the first abode of the aztecs after their departure from atzlan. "on considering the civilization," adds baron humboldt, "which exists on several points of the northwest coast of america, in the moqui and on the banks of the gila, we are tempted to believe (and i venture to repeat it here) that at the period of the migration of the toltecs, the acolhues and the aztecs, several tribes separated from the great mass of the people to establish themselves in these northern regions."[20][16]
connected with this subject and in evidence of the identity of these tribes with the aztecs, it should be stated that there exists numerous edifices of stone in a ruined state, on the banks of the gila, some of great extent, resembling the terraced edifices and teocallis of mexico and yucatan. one of these structures measures four hundred and forty-five feet in length by two hundred and seventy in breadth, with walls four feet in thickness. it was three stories high, with a terrace. the whole surrounding plain is covered with broken pottery and earthen ware, painted in various colors. vestiges of an artificial canal are also to be seen.[17] among the fragments are found pieces of obsidian, a volcanic substance not common to the country, and which is also found in the mounds in the mississippi and ohio valleys, in both cases applied to the same uses.
some valuable contributions to the geography and ethnology of the vast region lying between the rocky mountains and upper california and oregon, have been made by capt. fremont of the u.s. corps of engineers. the expedition under his command traversed the great desert, and examined portions of the country not before visited by white men. the information collected by this enterprising traveller will be of much service to the country in the new relations which may arise between the united states and california, as well as to persons who are seeking new homes in oregon. the report of captain, (now col.) fremont has been so widely circulated, and rendered so accessible to all who feel an interest in the subject,[21] that it would be superfluous to give any analysis of the work at this time. so satisfactory were the results of the expedition of this accomplished officer to the country and the government, that he has again been sent to make further explorations of the country south of that previously visited by him, and which lies between santa fé and the pacific ocean. colonel fremont has in this expedition already rendered important services to the country, having the command of a detachment of troops in upper california. this armed body of men will give him great advantages over an ordinary traveller in a wild and inhospitable country, where there are still tribes of indians which have not yet been subjugated by the spaniards, and which an unprotected traveller could not approach. much interest has been awakened from the accounts already received from col. fremont, and it is to be hoped that ere long we shall be placed in possession of full reports of his explorations, which must throw much light on the geography of this vast region, its aboriginal inhabitants, productions, climate, &c.
an exploratory journey in the isthmus of panama has recently been made by m. hillert, which has resulted in adding much important information to our previous knowledge of the country. it is known that there have been many surveys of the isthmus, with the view of opening a water communication between the oceans on either side. such was the primary object of mr. hillert, who, it appears has also made enquiries as to the practicability of making a rail road across it. his observations on the junction of the two oceans by means of a canal have appeared in the bulletin of the geographical society of paris for 1846, (pp. 306 and 389), together with various letters from him on other subjects which attracted his attention.
among other things mr. hillert has made known a most valuable anti-venomous plant, the guaco, a creeping plant, which abounds in the forest of the isthmus, the virtues of which were made known to him by the indians. after[22] rubbing the hands with the leaves of this plant, a person may handle scorpions and venomous insects with impunity, and mosquitoes after sucking the blood of those who had taken it inwardly died instantly. the geology and botany of the country received particular attention. m. hillert proposes to introduce several of the most useful plants and vegetables into the french dominions in senegal or algeria, among them the plant from which the panama hats are made. so valuable are the labors of this gentleman considered, that the french commission has awarded him the orleans prize, for having introduced into france the most useful improvement in agriculture. some ancient monumental edifices were discovered in the isthmus, not far from the river atrato, and others near the mines of cano; besides these an ancient canal cut through the solid rock in the interval which separates the rivers atrato and darien.
note.—the following list embraces all the books relating to oregon, california, and mexico, printed during the last two years.
narrative of the exploring expedition to the rocky mountains, in the year 1842, and to oregon and north california, in the years 1843-4, by capt. j.c. fremont of the topographical engineers, under the orders of col. j.j. abert, 8vo. washington, 1846.
exploration du territoire de l'oregon, des californies, et de la mer vermeille, executée pendant les années 1840, 41 et 42, par m. duflot de mofras, attaché à la légation de france à mexico. 2 vols. 8vo. and folio atlas of maps and plates. paris, 1845.
the oregon territory, claims thereto, of england and america considered, its condition and prospects. by alexander simpson, esq. 8vo. london, 1846.
the oregon territory, a geographical and physical account of that country and its inhabitants. by rev. c.g. nicholay. 18mo. london, 1846.
the oregon question determined by the rules of international law. by edward j. wallace of bombay. 8vo. london, 1840.
the oregon question. by the hon. albert gallatin. 8vo. new york, 1846.
the oregon question examined, in respect to facts and the laws of nations. by travers twiss, d.c.l. 8vo. london, 1846.
the oregon question as it stands. by m.b. sampson. london, 1846.
prairiedom; rambles and scrambles in texas and new estremadura. by a southron. 12mo. new york, 1846.
life in california during a residence of several years in that territory. by an american. to which is annexed an historical account of the origin, customs and traditions of the indians of alta california, from the spanish. post 8vo. new york, 1846.
an essay on the oregon question, written for the shakespeare club. by e.a. meredith. montreal, 1846.
the topic no. 3. the oregon question. 4to. london, 1846.
life in prairie land. by mrs. eliza w. farnham. 12mo. new york, 1846.
green's journal of the texan expedition against mier; subsequent imprisonment of the author; his sufferings, and final escape from the castle of perote. with reflections upon the present political and probable future relations of texas, mexico, and the united states. illustrated by drawings taken from life by charles m'laughlin, a fellow-prisoner. engravings. 8vo.
travels over the table lands and cordilleras of mexico, in 1843-4. with an appendix on oregon and california. by albert m. gilliam, late u.s. counsul, california. 8vo. philadelphia, 1846.
recollections of mexico. by waddy thompson, esq., late minister plenipotentiary of the u.s. at mexico. 8vo. new york, 1846.
altowan; or incidents of life and adventure in the rocky mountains. by an amateur traveller. edited by james watson webb. 2 vol. 12mo. new york, 1846.
scenes in the rocky mountains, oregon, california, new mexico, texas, and grand prairies, including descriptions of the different races inhabiting them, &c. by a new englander. 12mo. philadelphia, 1846.
history of oregon and california, and the other territories on the north west coast of north america: from their discovery to the present day. accompanied by a geographical view of those countries. by robert greenhow. 8vo. third edition. boston, 1847.
[23]
greenland and the arctic regions. the royal society of northern antiquaries published, in 1845, gr?nlands historiske mindesm?rker, (the historical monuments of greenland), vol. iii., (958 pages, with 12 copperplates), which closes this work. the 1st and 2d volumes, (pp. 814 and 794 respectively), were published in 1838. after professor rafn had finished the compilation of his separate work, antiquitates american?, which was published by the society in 1837, he connected himself with professor finn magnusen, for the purpose of editing—also under the auspices of the society—the great collection of original written sources of the ancient history of that remarkable polar land, which was first seen in 877, and colonized in 986. with a view of doing all that lay in its power to throw light on ancient greenland, the[24] society, during the ten years from 1832 to 1841, caused journies to be undertaken and explorations to be performed in such of the greenland firths as were of the greatest importance in respect of the ancient colonization. by excavations made among the ruins remaining from the ancient colony, there was obtained a collection of inscriptions and other antiquities, which are now preserved in the american museum erected by the society, and drawings were taken of the ground plans of several edifices. of the reports received on this occasion, we must in an especial manner notice, as exhibiting evidence of the most assiduous care, and as moreover embracing the most important part of the country, the exploration undertaken by the rev. george t. joergensen, of the firths of igalikko and tunnudluarbik, where the most considerable ruins are situated. the present, vol. iii., contains, extracts from annals, and a collection of documents relating to greenland, compiled by finn magnusen; (to this part appertains a plate exhibiting seals of the greenland bishops); ancient geographical writings, compiled by finn magnusen and charles c. rafn; the voyages of the brothers zeno, with introductory remarks and notes by dr. bredsdorff; a view of more recent voyages for the re-discovery of greenland, by dr. c. pingel, an antiquarian chorography of greenland, drawn up by j.j.a. warsaae, from the accounts furnished by various travellers of the explorations undertaken by them. the work is closed by a view of the ancient geography of greenland, by professor charles c. rafn, based on a collation of the notices contained in the ancient manuscripts and the accounts of the country furnished by the travellers. to which is added a list of the bishops and a chronological conspectus of the ancient and modern history of the country, a historical index of names, a geographical index, and an antiquarian index rerum. copperplate maps are annexed of the two most important districts of ancient greenland—the eastern settlement, (eystribygd), and the western settlement,[25] (vestribygd), exhibiting the position of the numerous ruins. moreover, plans and elevations of the most important ecclesiastical ruins and other rudera; also delineations of runic stones and other northern antiquities found in greenland.
scripta historica islandorum, latine reddita et apparatu critico instructa, curante societate regia antiquariorum septentrionalium. vol. xii. the edition first commenced by the society, of the historical sagas recording events which happened out of america, (iceland, greenland and vinland), particularly in norway, sweden and denmark, in the original icelandic text with two translations, one into latin, and another into danish, (36 vols.) has now been brought to a completion, by the publication of the above mentioned volume, (pp. 658 in 8vo.) wherein are contained regesta geographica to the whole work, which for this large cyclus of sagas may be considered as tantamount to an old northern geographical gazetteer, in as much as attention has also been paid to other old northern manuscripts of importance in a geographical point of view. complete, however, it cannot by any means be called, neither as regards iceland especially and other lands in america, whose copious historical sources have, in the present instance, been but partially made use of, nor also as regards the european countries without the scandinavian north, for whose remote history and ancient geography the old northern writings contain such important materials, but it is to be hoped that the society will in due time take an opportunity of extending its labors in that direction also. the present volume does, however, contain a number of names of places situated without the bounds of scandinavia in countries of which mention is made in the writings published in the work itself. to the name of each place is annexed its icelandic or old danish form, and the position of the place is investigated by means of comparison with other historical data and with modern geography.[26]
sir john franklin who left about two years on a voyage of exploration, in the arctic regions of america, remains in those inhospitable parts. much anxiety is felt for him as no tidings have been received from him. it is to be hoped that his voyage will prove successful and that before the close of the present year, he may return.
the hudson's bay company has lately fitted out an expedition, for the purpose of surveying the unexplored portion of the coast on the northeast angle of the north american continent. the expedition, which consists of thirteen persons, is under the command of one of the company's officers. it started on the 5th july, in two boats, under favorable circumstances;—the ice having cleared away from the shores of the bay at an earlier period of the year than usual.[18]
a memoir on the indian tribes beyond the rocky mountains, and particularly those along the shores of the pacific ocean, from california to behring's straits, with comparative vocabularies of their languages, is preparing for publication by the hon. albert gallatin, from authentic materials. mr. hale, philologist of the united states exploring expedition, has made a valuable contribution to the ethnology of this region, in his volume, entitled "ethnology and philology," being the seventh volume of the u.s. exploring expedition.
recent works on the arctic regions.
barrow's (sir j.) voyages of discovery and research within the arctic regions, from the year 1818 to the present time, in search of a north-west passage, from the atlantic to the pacific; with two attempts to reach the north pole. abridged from the official narratives, with remarks by sir john barrow. 8vo. london, 1846.
americas arctiske landes gamle geographie efter de nordiske oldskriefter ved c.c. rafn. 8vo. copenhagen, 1846.