Book excerpt: Go where we may, to explore the antiquities of America — whether of Northern, Central, or Southern America — we are first of all impressed with the magnitude of these relics of ages and races unknown, and then with the extraordinary similarity they present to the mounds and ancient structures of old India, of Egypt, and even of some parts of Europe. Whoever has seen one of these mounds has seen all. Whoever has stood before the cyclopean structures of one continent can have a pretty accurate idea of those of the other. Only be it said — we know still less of the age of the antiquities of America than even of those in the Valley of the Nile, of which we know next to nothing. But their symbolism — apart from their outward form — is evidently the same as in Egypt, India, and elsewhere. Equalling Egypt in the immensity of her cyclopean structures, Peru surpasses her in their number; while Cholula exceeds the grand pyramid of Cheops in breadth, if not in height. However, Incan history only dates back to the eleventh century A.D. Judged by their exclusive privileges, power, and “infallibility,” Incas are the antipodal counterpart of the Brahmanical caste of India. On the other hand, Manco Cápac is the exact counterpart of the Chinese Fohi, the Hindu Buddha, the terrestrial Osiris of Egypt, the Quetzalcoatl of Mexico, the Votan of Central America. The theory of cycles is the only plausible theory to solve the great problems of humanity, the rise and fall of numberless nations and races, and the ethnological differences among the latter, and the two-sided question — incessant progress on the one side and an irresistible decadence on the other of the cycle. The extraordinary similarity of the Aryan with the South American tradition suggests that the old Solar and Lunar races, Suryavansha and Chandravansha, have already reappeared in the New World. For America was once united with Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. That man has lived in America, at least 50,000 years ago, is now proved scientifically and remains a fact beyond doubt or cavil. Must we still locate a geographical Eden in the East, and suppose a land equally adapted to man and as old geologically, must wait the aimless wanderings of the “lost tribe of Israel” to become populated?