Burning the Dead

"T." will find some information on this subject in Sir Thomas Browne's *Hydriotaphia*, chap. i., which appears to favour his view except in the following extract: "The same practice extended also far west, and besides Heruleans, Getes and Thracians, was in use with most of the Celtæ, Sarmatians, Germans, Gauls, Danes, Swedes, Norwegians; not to omit some use thereof among *Carthaginians*, and *Americans*." The Carthaginians most probably received the custom from their ancestors the Phoenicians, but where did the Americans get it?