| OCR Text |
Show 216 BASIS OP AMERICAN HISTORY [ 1500 and geographical proximity were the pre- eminent factors in binding together the tribes and confederacies. N Furthermore, these villages were almost always permifient, although the seasonal changes of residence brought about by the necessities of the food quest often gave to the early observers the impression of an unstable and nomadic habit. Scattered at intervals along the coasts of both oceans, and on the waterways of the continent and about the shores of the lakes of the interior, it is not strange that the white immigrants encountered these villages at every turn and supposed that the vast intervening territories were as thickly peopled as the natural routes of travel which they happened to be following; whereas, as a matter of fact, large areas were nearly as destitute of Indian as of white inhabitants. For this and other reasons, gross misconceptions have arisen regarding the number of Indians at the discovery; and with them equally erroneous ideas as to the rapid decrease and inevitable extinction of the race. 1 Such calculations as can be made would show nothing but a gradual diminishing of their numbers, except in special groups; and in some cases an increase can be proven. So far as the evidence is attainable, it indicates that sparse and scattered population has been the condition from time immemorial. 1 See above, chap. vi. |
