This work was translated by Peter S. Du Ponceau from Vater's "Untersuchungen über Amerikas Bevölkerung aus dem alten Kontinente" (Leipzig, 1810). It was Du Ponceau's opinion that Vater was moved to write this book by Benjamin Smith Barton's "New Views of the Origin of the Tribes and Nations of America," which Vater often quoted. Contains bibliographical notes.