HISTORY OF THE WYANDOTT MISSION.
Indians, why so called—Their origin unknown-Supposed to be descendants of the Ten Tribes of Israel-Revolt of the Ten Tribes-Carried captive into Assyria-Scripture prophecies concerning them-Of their dispersion and final restoration-Their present existence and place unknown-Outcasts from the rest of the world—Their probable migration to this continent-Arguments to show this—Quotation from Esdras-Probable from Assyria to this continent-Comparison between the Indians and Jews, in their persons, dress, ornaments, &c.-The Indian languages derived from one root-Indians' opinion of their own origin-Hold themselves to be a distinct race.
THE natives of this continent were called INDIANS by the first discoverers of it, who supposed that they had reached the eastern coast of INDIA. They found it peopled with a numerous race of copper colored inhabitants, enjoying many of the blessings of social life, whose very existence was before unknown to all the rest of the world.
Of the origin of the Indian race, history is altogether silent. And although God "hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell upon the earth," yet, from what branch of the family of Noah they have descended, or how and when they reached this continent, as well as their subsequent history, nothing better is left to us than mere conjecture. Even their own traditions on this subject differ, and, at best, are shrouded in great obscurity, or rejected as ridiculous fables. The question of their origin, however, is too deeply interesting to be passed