Catalogue of remarkable coincidences inducing a belief of the Asiatic Origin of the North American Indians

 

By Major Mercer (?)

 

[Originally published by the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec in Transactions, Original Series 1, Volume 1 (1829)]

 

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LEDYARD, An American intimate with our In­dians, on finding himself amongst the Yakuti, Tongusi, &c. of Siberia, felt at once the conviction of their identity.—See Sparke's Life of Led-yard.

 

FEATHERS, The Peacock's Feather stuck in the back of the bonnet and hanging down behind is amongst the Mantchoos & Chinese a military distinction; it is according to some, similar to our Or­ders of Knighthood, and the dignity is increased by each additional Fea­ther.—The Caufirs of Caubul wear a sort of Turban into which is stuck a long Feather for every Musulman the wearer has killed.—The North American Indian sticks an Eagle's feather in his head-dress for every enemy he has killed. I have seen them at Amherstburg wearing these ornaments, and it struck me particularly from their being pendant on the back, or sticking out behind, like those of the Chinese.

 

FUNEREAL RITES. We find almost every mode in use amongst the Siberians, &c. also amongst one or other of the Indian Tribes, viz. exposing on scaffold; wrapping up in bark; burying in shal­low graves covered by a bark roof, over which are suspended flags, pieces of silk, &c.—burning—enclosing in of trees. Also the accompaniments of arms, utensils, food, &c.

 

BARK UTENSILS CANOES, &c. (La Perouse found baskets of Bark exactly like those of our Indians, on the coast of Tartary.—The Tongusi use the Bark canoe, and La Perouse speaks of the rolls of Bark the inha­bitants of Lagalun carry with them, for covering their wigwams.

 

SNOW SHOES. La Perouse and Lessep, both found the Snow shoe in Eastern Tartary & Kamtschatka.

 

MAPS. The Tact displayed by the Indians in delineating the features of a country, is found on the other Continent, and its E. Islands. La Perouse speaks particularly of the Inhabitants of Sagaleen as displaying great intelli­gence of this sort.

POSITION of MALES for Urinary Evacuations, This Oriental Custom is prevalent among the Indians, I mean that of squatting like females.—For its being Asiatic see Burkhardt, I forget what volume, and Forster's overland jour­ney from India vol. 1. p. 245.

 

REPRESENTATION. Amongst the Afghauns and Amer­ican Indians the same mode of Repre­sentation prevails. The Council being formed of Representatives from each family, with the Chief or Khan for President.

 

FEAST of DOGS. In Kamtschatka and among our In­dians the Dog is esteemed a prime delicacy and reserved for great or so­lemn occasions. In China Puppies are sold in the Markets.

 

GAMES. The Indian game at Ball, resembles the Irish Hurling, but still more closely the Basque Game of longue Paume. Also does the enthusiasm and importance attached to it.—The Game of the Bowl is a Tartar Game?

 

POLYGAMY. Common to the two people, as also many attendant circumstances.

 

LOVERS. The custom of the Lover serving a year in the family of his Future, ob­tains among some Indian Tribes, as Jacob served Laban.—Ledyard says the Tchouktchis do the same; so do the Tunquinese—vide Exposé Sta­tistique de Tunquin.

 

BARK as FOOD. Is used by the Kamtschadales and the Indians likewise.

 

MOCCASSIN. Ledyard found this among the Kalmouks.

 

TOBACCO, &c. The use of Tobacco is said by the Chinese to be of great antiquity amonst them.—The use of the Pipe in ceremonies, &c. is common all over Asia, particularly in the recep­tion and dismissal of Guests &c. this is quite Indian.—The Tongusi al­ways commence by presenting the Pipe.

 

SCALPING. Pennat says the Scythians scalped— Polybus has the same of the Cartha­ginians.

 

WAMPUM. Ledyard found it among the Tartars used in ornamenting Dresses, &c.

 

DEPILATION. That our Indians pluck out their Beards, &c. is well known—Pallas says the Kalmouks do the same.

 

SENIORITY. Those dwelling furthest West are deemed Seniors. See Long's Exped. to St. Peter's River, vol. 1. p.90.

 

SACRAMENT. In the same author vol. 1. p. 92 is described a religious ceremony par­taking much of our receiving the Sacrament.

 

WOMEN. The Potowatomies and many others conceive Women an inferior order of Beings.

 

LEGGINS. Major Long says the Leggin is very similar to a Chinese Garment that supplies the place of pantaloons.

 

WHITE. A sacred colour—The skin of a white deer for instance being a most acceptable offering!—This recalls the white heifers of the ancients— White is the Chinese mourning—ergo sacred.

 

SEPTENNIAL SU­PERSTITION. The Indians say the Deer and Bears, &e. are alternately more numerous every seventh year; they also be­lieve in a Septennial rise of the Wa­ters.—This is found also in some parts of Asia. Morier mentions it in his 2d journey through Persia p. 20.

 

GUESTS. In the Entertainment of Guests, the Indians never eat with them, but wait on them.—This is Asiatic. It may have its origin in a superstition entertained by both people, viz. that the least drop of Wine falling on any thing contaminates it.

 

JOURNEYS, &c. A great similarity in the mode of travelling is found between Tribes on both continents, such as the use of the Canoe, carrying the bark for their Tents; mode of halting, &c. Portages, &c.

 

PREPARATION of SKINS, By the Squaws of the Indians, the Kamtschadales, the Koriacs, &c.

 

BEDS of TWIGS. The Indians make extremely com­fortable beds of the small Twigs of the Cedar, &c. The Tchoukchis are described as using these beds.

 

HUNTING. The mode of driving Deer, Buffa­loes, &c. into enclosures as descri­bed by Hearne, &c. &c. is precisely like that followed by the Kamtscha­dales & Koriacs—I think Lessep says so.

 

SECESSION FROM TRIBES. We find it no uncommon thing for Parties, to secede from their own Tribe, and obtain adoption in one of another Nation—For an account of a similar practice amongst the Afghauns, see Elphinstone's Caubul, vol 1. p. 273, 4 to.

 

FRIENDS. See in the same author vol. 2 pp. 4-5 Ed. 8vo. an account of alliances formed between two young Afghauns mutually to fight for each other, and compare it with the account of simi­lar engagements amongst the Sioux, &c. given by Major Long's Expd. to St. Peter's river, vo. 1. p. p. 233 456.

 

CHAMPIONS. Elphinstone vol. 2. p. 29, describes those of the Eusozyes an Afghaun Tribe. Something very similar is found amongst the Tribes W. of the Mississipi.

 

WAR CHIEFS. The same Author describes a prac­tice of the Afghauns in chosing a Chief, (different from the hereditary Chief) to conduct a War, which is precisely that of the Indian Tribes. See his Caubul 8vo. vol. 2. p. 186.

 

MAGAZINES. The earliest European visitors among the Indians describe their mode of storing their corn &c. which is the same as that now practised by the Kamtschadales, Tartars, &c.

 

LABIALS. De Guigues, Timskowski &c. observe that the Mantchoux and Chinese are unable to pronounce the letters B. P. M. F. Father Hen­nepin says the same of the Iroquois.

 

TOMAHAWK. Query. Is this not eminently an Asiatic Weapon? perhaps not exactly in its present form; but as a battle axe. Some of the Tartars wear a small axe at the girdle.

 

WASHING & ANOINTING FEET} This is repeatedly mentioned by Hennepin and others.

 

CRUCIFIXION. Père Hennepin p. 91 asserts that the Iroquois crucify their prisoners, &c.

 

SPINDLE. The Squaws used this for making their Thread long before the Euro­peans visited their country.

 

CATAMITES. Boys kept for infamous purposes, are mentioned by several writers on the American Indians, who also describe the Cinœdi, who assume the female garb and employments.—That this abomination exists in China, &c. is pretty fully established, and under aspects very similar.

 

PSYLLI. Serpent Charmers are described by P. Hennepin, Carver and others.

 

POULTRY. The native country of our domestic hen, is, I believe India. It is a des­cendant of the Jungle fowl, and I have never heard of its being indi­genous in this Continent. Hennepin speaks of domestic fowls amongst Tribes to whom he was the first Eu­ropean Visitor. Query, had they obtained them from the Spaniards?

DOGS. If not, here is a singular coincidence. The same may be said of the Dog—Is he indigenous, otherwise it is a singular coincidence that the Indians should have possessed Dogs previous to their being visited by Europeans.

 

SACRIFICES. And Offerings to the Great Spirit & the Evil one; a great similarity per­haps identity is found between the modes practised by the Tartars and Indians.

 

LANGUAGES. Lesseps says that in Kamtschatka alone, in going from one village to another an Interpreter is necessary— This dissimilarity in language emi­nently prevails amongst the N. A. Indians.

BATHS. The Vapour Bath in Asia and America is the same thing exactly.

 

DUCK HUNTING. It is remarkable that the same mode of taking wild Fowl by going into the water with a calabash on the head, and seizing them by the legs should be practised in China & about Isthmus of Darien.

 

LENDING WIVES. Altho' I have not yet found this In­dian Custom, amongst any Siberian Tribe, yet it is said to be practised by the Laplanders.

 

MATCHE MANITOU, Of the Indians appears to coincide with the Goule or Spirit of the Desert among the Asiatics.

 

EMBLEMS, Of Tribes—West notices as similar to those of the Tribes of Israel—The Tartars are I believe divided into bands or standards, &c. as that of the Wolf, &c.

 

JUSTICE. An offender against any family is punished by that Family, the Chiefs not interfering—the same prevails amongst the Afghauns—see Elphinstone &c.

 

BRIDGE OF * * * I forget what the Mahometans call the bridge they must pass to arrive in Paradise—a very similar superstition is prevalent with most of the Indian Tribes.

 

WIDOWS. Among the Chippewas and some other tribes a man is bound to marry his brother's widow.

 

WATER BUDGETS. The skin budget for water or liquors is found among some tribes on the Mississippi and its tributaries.

 

FEAST OF LAMPS. Amongst these also is found a Festival something analogous to the Chinese one in the Margin—at the commencement of Buffalo hunting.—vide Hunter p. 218.

 

METEMPSYCHOSIS. Traces of it are found amongst some tribes.

 

BURNT OFFERINGS. Are sometimes made—vide Hunter &c.

 

AMULET, &c. Are in constant use amongst the American Indians.

 

SITTING POSTURE, The Asiatic mode of sitting cross-legged is common with most tribes. —Is there not also a connection between the Mats placed round the Lodges for this purpose and the nummuds of the Tartars?

 

WIGWAMS, &c. Both those of bark and of skin are common and of a common form in Asia and America.

 

SHIELDS. Of Buffalo used by western tribes— this is truly Asiatic.

 

NAMES, &c. The prevalence of Monosyllables in their Names both of persons and things—if we may trust Hunter, are completely Chinese—Thus 'Shu-ja he-min-keh'-—'O-kon-now' Thin - ga -was-sa'—Pa-ton-sech', &c.

 

DEATH. The Indians believe death has been inflicted on the human family in con­sequence of transgressions against the great Spirit.

 

COUNTENANCE. The Mongul countenance is found among some tribes as the Mohawks, &c. The Tartarian features in some tribes are remarkably striking in others they almost if not entirely dis­appear.

 

ONCEAN. Or breech cloth is worn by the Tunkinese, &c.

 

BAIDAR, Or skin boat of the Siberians is found here also.

 

SCALP LOCK & SHAVEN HEADS. This, is well known as Asiatic, at least the second, which may be said to be general throughout Asia—the scalp-lock is peculiar to the Chinese and some Tartar tribes.

 

DANCES, The Scalp Dance may be the same as the Pyrrhic Dance, or as the Hungarian War Dance described in Brights' Travels—These Hungarians are certainly of Tartar origin,— Coxe in his Poland, &c. vol. 1. p. 307, describes a Kalmuck dance which is exactly smilar to one I have seen danced by our Indians, but forget whether it is the dog-dance, or what.

 

PAPPOUS CRADLE.—Is the Jætka of the Laplanders, and the treatment of the child &c. exact —The Laplanders, who are they?— vide Accrbi. C. Brooke &c. &c.

 

THE BEAR, The Indians have great respect for the Bear, supposing him endowed with superior intellect, that when they attack him, it is customary to address him with reproaches, &c. The same ideas and usages prevail amongst the Laplanders, &c.—vide Lewis & Clark. C. Brooke, &c.

 

AMADOU. From the most remote period the Nations of Siberia and the American Indians, use the same sort of Tinder for lighting their Pipes, &c.—forget authority for this.

 

AURORA BOREALIS, In Siberia and in American tribes think they see the spirits of departed Friends, &c. dancing in the Aurora &c. vid. Hearne—Cap. Brooke, &c.

 

TATTOOING, Is common on both Continents.

 

WATER, The Sioux are said to offer water to Strangers, as a symbol of peace, also to those who have offended them as a mark of pardon—The Tartars have a similar usage.

 

FIRE BRAND. Another usage common to the two people is the belief that it is unlucky to cut a stick, &c. which has been partially burnt.

 

CHILD BIRTH, West says that the Indians esteem a woman impure 40 days after a male and 80 after a female child is born and that similarly to what is enjoined the Levitical Law, the man must remain separated from her during that period.

 

MENSTRUATION. In the same manner the women must be put apart during menstruation— I have seen them shut up in lodges surrounded by an enclosure at a distance from the Camp.—The Indians imagine the impurity extends to every thing they have to do with even the Fire, and would on no account go thither for fire.

 

DELUGE. They all have Traditions of this Catastrophe.

 

BURNING of WIDOWS. West says is to be found among some Tribes near M'Kenzie's River.

 

STONEING. The same author mentions the practice of stoneing culprits to death among the Micmacs as formerly existing.

 

PAINTING. The person particularly with Vermillion is found in India, see B. Hebers Journal.—In Kamschatka & Timkowski says the Chinese use it, Vo.l 2. p. 90.—Further painting the Face red is common among the Russian female Peasants.

 

TRABUGGAN, Appears to be precisely the Wart of Siberia, vide Bell of Antermony, vol. 1. p. 287.

 

WAMPUM. In many parts of Asia, and among some Tartar Tribes it is customary to enregister remarkable events by knotted Cords, or by stringing Beads on Cords—Is not this the Wampum??

 

HUNTING RULE. Among the Mongol and Montchoux &c. (I believe) it is a fixed rule that the skin of an animal belongs to the killer.—Something analagous is found among the Indians, who finding a dead beast, are at liberty to take the flesh but must leave the skin. Also a man who discovers the Ravages of the Orignal fixes his mark, and tho' he go in pursuit of something else should another Indian kill his Orignal, the skin belongs to the Discoverer.

 

NOSE RINGS, Worn by the Indian and by the Tartar, &c. &c. In China, they are sometimes worn by certain Women who profess chastity.

 

TORTOISE, There are various superstitions relative to the Tortoise among the Chinese, Tartars and Indians. The former believe the World rests upon one.—These superstitions require time means, and great attention, either to ascertain their connection, or the contrary!

 

IDOLS, Similar to some found among the Tartars, are known to be venerated by the Indians.—A seaman named Brown (probably known to Capt. Bayfield) then employed in the naval establishment at Grand River (1824) told me of one he had seen on Christian Island, Lake Huron.

 

CANOES, The manner in which the bark Canoe is handled by the Tongusi—their kneeling position whilst rowing, &c. as described by Bell of Antermony is quite Indian.

 

DREAMS, &c. The Tartars and Siberians dream as well as our Indians, for a remarkable similarity of feeling sentiment, &c. see Mongol Song—Timkowski vol. 1. p. 69 and infra. Is any thing deducible from this; or is it, that the songs of wild people always breathe the same feeling, whether—Celtic, Indian, Mongolian, or Esthonian ?

 

NAMES OF HONOR. We find among the Mongols the same application of brute appellations as among our Indians.—Thus in the former case are the Lion, the strong Elephant, &c. &c.—in the latter, the Wolf, the Tortoise, Blackbird, &c. &c.

 

DIVINITY, The Omniprescence of the Deity and his other attributes appear to be almost precisely alike among all our Indian Tribes and those of Siberia.— See Timkowski, Ledyard, Hunter, Carver and a multitude of other authors.

 

EVIL SPIRIT, Is worshipped and prayed to on both Continents for the same purpose, viz. to deprecate his wrath. Here again is a similarity of Forms.

 

TRADITIONS. Many Tribes have traditionary history of their having formerly come from the N. West.

 

TURBAN. Something resembling this is found in the costume of certain tribes— Pieces of silk, or gaudy handkerchiefs rolled round the head. Is this worth nothing ?

 

CIRCUMCISION. M'Kenzie says he certainly saw a strong appearance of it (I think) in the Dog-rib Indians.

 

FIGURATIVE STYLE IN ORATORY. Gravity and dignity, are all Asiatic.

 

CONJURORS, Of the Indians are precisely the Shamans of the Tartars, Siberians and others.