Footnotes
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It contains an introduction, general view, account of materials and
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DEDICATION.
To The
Society Of Geography
Of Paris.
GENTLEMEN:—
To you I dedicate this work, result of long and weary researches. This
homage is due to the public approbation you gave to my first analogous
labor, my Memoirs or Series of Researches on the Origin of Mankind: which
I endeavored to trace philologically to the centre of Asia. I had
announced long ago this history of the Americans, the inhabitants of a
whole hemisphere. I had quoted it in my other works. I now offer the
outlines of it under your auspices.
You have furnished the example of cultivating along with Geography, all
the auxiliary and connected sciences, which may enlighten it: particularly
the ancient and modern Ethnography, with Philology one of its bases. You
will see that I have followed this practice in availing myself of all the
sciences to enlighten the history of mankind, the Ethnography and annals
of nations: above all Philology with Chronology and Geography.
The origins and annals of the black nations, and of the American nations,
were two subjects quite obscure and neglected, or the least known, of the
history of mankind. Nobody has undertaken, as yet, the history of the
Negro nations: a labor so difficult and luckless as to be despised.
My memoirs on this despised race, may perhaps furnish the bases of such
history. All the histories of America are mere fragments or dreams. I have
perceived the possibility and necessity to write a general and faithful
history of this hemisphere. I now offer the results of this weary labor.
You will perceive in it many things which have already been said; since it
is impossible to write history without repetitions; but my plan, the whole
point of view, and the results which I draw, are my own. You will also
find many things which were never told or were very improperly presented.
I shall destroy many errors, hypotheses and conjectures: since in them
alone often consist our works upon America.
But I shall not say every thing; where so much is to be related, all
cannot be told: and I shall be compelled to neglect several minute
details. I wish to trace faithful outlines, rather than write a bulky
work, like our pretending _universal histories_, which however, dwell only
upon one-third of the globe or even less.
I dislike long quotations, and shall seldom employ them: I quote only when
authorities are required to render an opinion more forcible. Every where
else I merely give the abridgement of my great historical materials in
manuscript, which are arranged by extracts of authorities, and where they
may be sought for in case of need.
Accept, Gentlemen, the respectful homage of
The Author.
PHILADELPHIA,
_October 22d, 1833_.
PREFACE.
In venturing to open a new path in historical researches on the earth and
mankind, it is incumbent on the bold pioneer to state his views, or at
least to furnish adequate reasons for deviating so far from the usual
track.
While every science and branch of knowledge is improving, and has, with
rapid strides, made continual advances for fifty years past or more, is
the noble muse of history to be kept stationary forever, by compilers and
classical plodders? and for America by the foes of the ancient and modern
nations of a whole hemisphere? No ... it is time to improve history as
every thing else; to seek the truth and tell it.
As the human mind is yet more swayed by authorities, than genius or
wisdom; high authorities will be given instead of long explanations. Ever
since the time of Juvenal, it has been an ungrateful task to write
historical truth: men often prefer to be amused, deceived, or helped in
strife; than to be instructed, or receive sketches of former times. Yet
there is always a secret delight in viewing faithful pictures of ages
past, of our ancestors on earth, and our predecessors on the soil of our
homes, or where we spend the scenes of our own lives.
The worthies who have been taken for models or guides in this arduous
undertaking, are Solomon, Moses, Job, St. Paul, St. Augustine, Plato,
Niebuhr, Humboldt, Malcolm, Gebelin, D’Olivet, Bryant, Adelung, Drummond,
Pritchard, Champollion, Klaproth, Jones, Wilford, Akbar, Price, Bailly,
Russell, Beattie, Herder, Carli, Barton &c. They shall speak for
themselves, in quotations of their own words, instead of elaborate
reflexions.
From God comes wisdom, knowledge and understanding—SOLOMON Prov. 2. v. 6.
Those who will seek early wisdom will find her—SOL. Pr. 8. v. 17. Hear
instruction and be wise, and refuse it not—SOL. Pr. 8. v. 33.
ZE this is. SFR book. THU symbol. LDTH progeny. ADM mankind. BIUM in
manifestation. BRA in realization. ALEIM angels. ADM mankind. BDMUTH in
identic passage. ALEIM angels. OSHE worked. ATHU such symbol.—MOSES.
_Genesis ch, 5. v. 1._ Genuine mosaic words, and genuine translation word
for word.
When I laid the foundations of the earth ... the morning stars sung
together, and the sons of God shouted for joy.—SPEECH OF GOD HIMSELF IN
JOB ch. 38., _Vulgar translation: the original is still more striking_.
The Hebrew philosophy divided the world in two hemispheres, the upper was
SHMIM or _Shamaim_, the Heavens—the lower was SHEOL; but SHEOL-TAHTITH or
inferior, was the place of bad souls and Rephaim. (The true SHEOL was
America, or the southern hemisphere). The Jesuit Sanetius thought that Job
had spoken of America.—PETERS, _Dissertation on Job_.
It is very possible for modern learning to understand better the books of
Moses, Orpheus, and those of all ancient nations, than the Egyptian, Greek
and Roman commentators: because the intellectual knowledge of languages is
improving; and those ancient writers have, by their genius, approximated
to us, while removed from the blindness of their ages.—GEBELIN, _Primitive
World_.
The letter kills, but the spirit gives life.—ST. PAUL _Corinth._ II. ch.
3. v. 6. We use great plainness of speech, and not as MOSES who put a veil
before his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to
the end of that which is abolished.—_Cor. II. 3. v. 12, 13._—and even unto
this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart, nevertheless
when it shall please the Lord, this veil shall be taken away.—_Cor. II. 3.
v. 15, 16._
To have a right apprehension of words or names, is a good step to the
knowledge of things.—PLATO _in Cratylo_.
The confusion of words is the cause of all disputes and sects.—D’ISRAELI.
The obscure ages demand bold hypotheses or total neglect, contradictions
are inseparable from days of tradition.—There exist no instance of a
people really savage having spontaneously advanced to civilization. Savage
men are degenerated or imperfect creatures.... Words and even few are the
rules of analogies in nations.—NIEBUHR, _Roman History, Vol. I._
It is manifest that there are noble resources (for history) still
remaining, if we will but apply ourselves to diligent enquiry. There are
in every climate some scattered fragments of original history, some traces
of a primitive and universal language. _Even America would contribute to
this purpose, the more rude the monuments, the more ancient they may
possibly prove, and afford greater light on enquiry._ BRYANT, MYTHOLOGY;
conclusion of the work.
To accumulate materials without generalizing any idea is a method as
sterile in history as in natural philosophy.—The geology of America does
not differ essentially from that of the old world, the strata and the
emersion from the waters are not newer: species long extinct have also
preceded those now peopling the earth, the waters and the air.—The problem
of the first population of America is no more the province of history,
than the questions on the origin of plants and animals. When we shall
better know the brown men of Africa, with those of the north and east of
Asia, the American nations will be less insulated—They have extended from
lat. 68 N. to 55 S. or 123 degrees of latitude, in plains and mountains,
assuming various complexions and stature. If Africa has 140 languages,
America has still more; resembling in this, the Caucasus, Italy before the
Romans; but they are susceptible of classification into families. The
multiplicity of languages is a very ancient phenomenon, perhaps those
which we call American, belong no more to America, than the Magyar and
Choud or Finn to Europe.—HUMBOLDT, _American Researches, Introduction_.
If we desire to be fully informed of a nation’s history, we must not
reject the fables under which the few traces that remain of its origin are
concealed. These, however extravagant, always merit attention they have an
influence on the character of the people to whom they relate.—_First words
of_ MALCOLM, _History of Persia_.
The Chinese often call the king, the kingdom and the nation by the same
name, nay, even also the capital city.—REGIS, _History of Corea, in
Duhalde China_.
The cradle or first seat of mankind was in Asia, between lat. 30 and 50;
which is also the native place of all the domestic animals, fruits and
grains.—_Adelung, Bailly, Higgins, &c._
The Genesis was a compilation of Moses from older annals, some perhaps by
Noah himself.—_Revd. Mr. Davies, Herder._
The patriarchs of Moses and Pitris of Hindus were nations,
personifications of early tribes.—_Drummond, D’Olivet, Wilford._
The early gods and kings of Greece and Italy, were probably tribes, the
chiefs and followers being called by the same name. This is true also of
the various Hercules or wandering Heroes.—_Dodwell, Jamieson._
Trying them by the languages, the Americans will appear to be children of
the earliest human families.—BARTON, _Physical Journal_.
A flood of historical light has lately flown from India and Asia; but we
lack still the real annals of Thibet: Polynesia and America may yet supply
many facts and fill some blanks.—The original seat of civilization was
between the Ganges and the Nile, the Caspian and the ocean.—The first
tribes after the flood were fishermen and Frugivores, next hunters who did
spread north east as far as America, and shepherds south west, as far as
Cape of Good hope.—PRITCHARD, _Physical History of Man_.
The genealogy of the kings of England is derived direct from Noah in 25
generations only, to Cerdic first king of Wessex in 495; and through SCEAF
born in the ark! giving more than 125 years for each generation, which is
impossible, and proves these names, successive tribes or dynasties till
Woden.—INGRAM, _Saxon Chronicle_.
The Ethiopians, Nubians and Egyptians are a peculiar race, perhaps in
Africa before the flood.—CHAMPOLLION, _Systeme Hieroglyphique_.
The languages are better guides than physical characters for researches on
mankind, and roots more important than grammars.—KLAPROTH.
Language belongs to man from origin, he never was a dumb animal, else he
would always have remained so. All languages have something in common, and
something peculiar.—BEATTIE, _Theory of Language_.
A thousand nations with a thousand idioms, are spread over a thousand
places on earth. Thrown against each other like the waves of the sea, they
blend and tend to unity. Several rival languages are formed, polished by
contract, which overspread the earth; and break to pieces as well as
nations and empires. Others arise from their ruins, and strive again for
ascendency, until at last a people and language, son and daughter of all
the previous nations and idioms, heirs of their dominion and wealth; shall
perhaps invade the whole earth, and produce again the unity of speech and
rule.—D’OLIVET, _End of Hebrew Grammar_.
It is said, _In the beginning God made Heaven and Earth_, that is to say,
the seeds of heaven and earth, since their matter was yet in confusion in
a potential way.—ST. AUGUSTINE _on Genesis_.
In the whole _Mosaic text_ there is no Eden, no tree, no apple, no rib, no
woman, no snake, no ark ... but other words thus improperly translated to
veil the sense.... Adam is not a man, but mankind, _Aish_ intellectual
men, _Ashe_ mate or potent will, HUE our Eve is living existence!... The
names of patriarchs are all expressive of operations of mankind.... Yet
Moses’ Unity of God, and Belief in Immortality is evident throughout;
although so obscured by the translation as to have been doubted.... Moses
with his veils is made absurd; raising the veils he appears wise, deep,
consistent, even more enlightened than our age on many points.—D’OLIVET,
_Notes on Genesis_.
Whenever the numerical letters of Moses are taken in their material sense,
inextricable difficulties have arisen; and which is the true version out
of the 3 is doubtful: the deep mosaic meaning and import shall never be
known, until the ancient lost science of numbers is restored, which was
once known from China to Egypt and Europe.—D’OLIVET, _last note_.
Eblis or Satan was disgraced from Heaven, where Rezoan was his successor,
and exiled to Seyestan, with the Snake and Peacock tribes his followers,
Adam was exiled to Ceylon, Eve to Arabia &c.—PRICE, _Translation of
Abijauffer’s History of Arabia_.
Menu was Adam, but there are seven Menus, the seventh was Noah.—SIR W.
JONES, _Laws of Menu_. WILFORD.
The Babylonian empire begun 530 years after the flood, 2790 years after
Adam.—RUSSELL, _Connection of Sacred History_.
Primitive history is under a veil, involved in fables; but all ancient
fables have a historical base.—BAILLY, _on Atlantis_.
Before Adam God created the _Dives_ (angels) who had 72 kings or
_Sol-i-man_ for 7000 years, and after them the _Peris_ govern for 2000
years.—HERBELOT, _Oriental Library_.
Noah dwelt near Cabul and Cashmir, his Ararat was in the Imalaya
mountains.—SHUCKFORD, WELLS, _Sacred Geography &c._
As early as 4600 years before Christ, there was a communication between
the Americans and the east by astronomical coincidences.—CARLI, _American
Letters_.
Two great wars or _Mahabharat_ followed by dispersions of mankind,
happened in India in 3236 and 2501 (before our era); and the Indian solar
empire of _Berhut_ at Inderput now Delhi, ascends 16 generations beyond
the first, at least to 3750 years B. C.—_Institutes of the Emperor_ AKBAR,
_translated by_ GLADWIN.
Such are my guides. Are not those quotations sufficient?
For my rules of criticism, I have taken for guide, _Isaac Taylor’s_
excellent history of the transmission of ancient books, London, 1827. They
may be analysed as follows, from his own summary.
1. If the records of antiquity could be deprived of their authority, we
should also be deprived of intelligence, liberty and religion!
2. Dates are of little importance; being anciently expressed by letters,
they are liable to errors. The Greeks and all eastern christians reckon
5508 years from Adam to Christ.
3. Geography and natural facts are open to criticism.
4. Wonders, monsters, miracles, are not always fabulous, but doubtful.
Natural phenomena if unconnected with omens, may be right.
5. Speeches and secret motives do not belong to history, they are
ornaments of rhetoric or mere surmises.
6. Facts are only to be attended to, they become more certain, if
corroborated by monuments, inscriptions, coins &c.
7. The silence of a historian does not invalidate the assertions of
others.
8. Contradictions, exaggerations, prejudices, party spirit, national
dislike, must be allowed for. The arrogance of the Greeks and Chinese, who
call barbarians, nations as good as they, is shameful, and must be
noticed, as well as errors arising from hiding defeats &c.
The independent sources of history besides writers are, 1. remains of
literature. 2. Chronological documents and astronomical calculations, 3.
Natural features of nature and mankind, with permanent physical facts, 4.
Permanent institutions, manners, monuments, languages &c. Lastly, remote
facts may be certain; although a long while elapsed: whatever be the
consequence; and even if the first evidence may have been erroneously
transmitted, or not perspicuous. But accumulated evidence ought never to
be doubted.
CHAPTER I.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION.—_Natural Regions of America._—_Ancient and
Modern Nations._—_Historical Periods._
Since our Globe is better known, it is no longer divided into 4
Continents; but must be divided into 3 great parts of the world or
_Tholomeres_, each containing 3 lesser divisions or _Geotomes_, viz:
I. PROTHOLIA or THOLARKON, the ancient world, containing, 1. Asia, 2.
Africa, 3. Europe, which are continents.
II. NEOTHOLIA or HESPERIA, the new world, containing, 1. _Atalia_ or North
America, 2. _Columbia_ or South America, which are two continents ... and
3. the _Antilles_ or West Indies, the Archipelagos to the East and North,
Carib and Lucayes islands.
III. OCEANIA or THOLONESIA, the Oceanic or Insular world, containing, 1.
_Australia_, which is a continent, 2. _Meganesia_ or the great Islands
from Japan till Ceylan and Madagascar, 3. _Polynesia_, the small Eastern
Islands. These two last form immense groups of archipelagos, or clustered
islands.
Therefore the terrestrial world includes 6 continents, and 3 groups of
archipelagos, forming 9 geotomes.
It is of NEOTHOLIA that I write the history, of this third of the world,
named likewise America, or the two Americas; a double continent, crowned
in the East and towards the two poles by archipelagos.
Such an extensive part of the world, reaching nearly to both poles, offers
to our notice and researches a crowd of objects, nations and events. If
our universal histories which are confined to a small part only of the old
world, form already bulky collections; it would be equally so with
America, if we had complete annals of it. But, notwithstanding the scanty
materials which have reached us on its ancient history; the modern annals
and the old traditions of the nations dwelling there, afford many facts:
and many auxiliary means contribute to enlarge the previous history, in
unfolding the origins and revolutions of the nations and empires of both
Americas. Thus, we shall often have to make a choice or abridge these
materials, particularly in these outlines of a general history.
Formerly, historians wrote chiefly chronicles of the empires, kingdoms and
republics; which were often mere biographies of monarchs and chiefs,
conquerors and tyrants. We begin now to think more of mankind and the
nations. I shall follow this principle, and trace at last a national
history of America; this subject is so new, that we have not even yet a
good history of mankind in Europe, much less in Asia and Africa.
Having dwelt in this continent since 1802, having settled in it since
1815, and having travelled in it every year to study the monuments and
productions thereof: it was since 1818 that I began to conceive the
possibility of raising the veil that was thrown over the annals of this
third of the world. I have visited the public libraries of Washington,
Baltimore, Philadelphia, New-York, Boston, Albany, Lexington, &c. to
consult all the historical works on America, and every other part of the
world. I have read nearly all the travels in America and other distant
countries. In the Ebeling library deposited in that of Cambridge
University near Boston, I have found many ancient works on America, often
unique in the United States, and very rare even in Europe. There is but a
small number of rare works, which I have not yet been able to see; I shall
give a list of them, in order that it may be ascertained whether they
contain facts that have escaped me. My researches upon the languages and
monuments of America, will compensate this unavoidable neglect, since they
exceed whatever had been undertaken of the kind. I have thus endeavored to
collect and compare all the facts relating to my subject.
I have not imitated, therefore, the lazy writers, who have pretended to
give us histories of America, and have commonly produced mere sketches of
it, full of neglects and defects. Such were Robertson, Holmes, Touron,
Herrera, &c., with a crowd of imitators and compilers, which confine
themselves to some years, or a single region, or the mere first Spanish
invasions. They have, however, acquired some reputation either by style or
manner; but they have degraded history, by giving sketches instead of it.
We must except Herrera, who does not shine by the style; but is at least a
faithful annalist of the Spanish deeds and colonies during 62 years, from
1492 till 1552. But Robertson, although praised for his style, is only his
unfaithful and imperfect imitator, and the obvious slanderer of the
American nations.
A complete criticism of the writers on America, would be desirable; but
cannot enter into the plan of these historical outlines; although it may
find a place in ulterior illustrations. It will be sufficient now to
indicate that the best works, or those which furnish the greatest number
of historical materials, are the old writers and travellers, since the
modern historians and travellers (except Humboldt and a few more) appear
to forget whatever has already been written on America.
The historian of such an extensive continent, should not be a mere
annalist; but he ought to know well all the comparative sciences, sisters
of history, such as chronology, geography, biography, archeology,
ethnography, philology, &c. He ought also to be a philosopher and a
philanthropist, to know the natural sciences which become connected with
history by civilization, agriculture, and geology; he ought, above all, to
be impartial and a good critic, in order to discard national prejudices,
and avoid the blunders of credulity or imposture. What historian has ever
united such acquirements? I have tried to acquire them: Have I succeeded?
I offer my writings as the answer.
My method has been to make copious extracts of all the authors that I
read. These materials already form a collection of over one hundred books
of 6000 pages on the history of the earth and mankind: whereof I avail
myself for all my historical works. I have formed besides another
collection of iconographic illustrations, maps, plans, monuments, views,
portraits, alphabets, symbols, implements, costumes, &c.; which may serve
for proofs and atlas of these works, published or manuscript. This
tellurian iconography, chiefly American, consists already in ten great
books or portfolios; having little hope to be enabled to publish them, I
wish they might be deposited in a great public library, where they might
be consulted.
Instead of beginning this history of the Americans by generalities, I
should wish to conclude the work by such results; but it may frequently be
needful to deviate from this plan, and present results as they happen to
arise from the facts and events.
The different parts of the Western Hemisphere are often distantly remote,
and insulated, or little connected in their historical relations. Austral
America and Boreal America have for instance hardly any historical
connection: they are as widely separated as China and Europe; but all the
central parts of America are intimately connected, above all the mountain
regions from Mexico to Chili, which offer the same relation of
civilization, languages and annalogies, as the Hindu-European regions and
nations.
The Neotholian Hemisphere contains many distinct regions; but the natural
or physical regions are not always identic with the historical regions.
The isthmus of Panama or valley of Choco does not divide the nation as it
does the two continents of America: and many groups of nations are
intermingled throughout. The group of ancient ARUAC nations extended from
near Florida through the Antilles, Guyana, Brazil to Tucuman and
Magellania. The elder group of TALA or atlantic nations could be traced
from the Ohio to Mexico, Guatimala and South America in the west.
Notwithstanding this fact, it is useful to keep in mind the great natural
regions of America, so as to trace through them the vicissitudes of
mankind in ancient and modern times. Thus we find six such regions in
North America, and six in South America, with 3 in the Antilles.
1. Boreal region, or region of the lakes, stretching across North America,
from the streight of Behring and peninsula Alaska in the west, to
Labrador, Canada and Nova Scotia in the east. It is distinguished by a
rocky soil, many large lakes and millions of small ones, surrounded near
the pole and on either side by groups of islands. Its southern limits are
undefined, but Lake Erie forms one of them.
2. The Californian or Oregon region, stretching from north to south along
the Pacific Ocean from Fuca Strait to Mexico and Guatimala. It is a region
of plains and hills.
3. The Mexican region or central mountains and table lands from the
sources of the Missouri to Lake Nicaragua, distinguished by volcanoes, a
dry lofty soil, &c.
4. The Missouri region, extending in vast grassy plains from latitude 50
to the Gulf of Mexico.
5. The Alleghany region, stretching in woody hills and mountains from
Maine to Alabama and Illinois. The Ozark mountains and the whole of New
England appear detached portions of it.
6. The Literal Atlantic region, stretching from Long Island to Florida,
Mexico, Yucatan and Honduras, forming a long but narrow region of level
plains, sands and marshes, skirted by sandy shores and islands.
The Antilles or West Indies, are all islands; divided into 3 very natural
groups.
1. The large and hilly Islands of Jamaica, Cuba, Hayti, Boriquen.
2. The Lucayes or Bahama Islands north of them, low and chiefly of coral
formations.
3. The Carib Islands east and south, commonly volcanic.
The regions of South America are 1. That of the Andes or high volcanic
mountains extending from Santa Marta to the Island of Chiloé, stretching
branches east as far as Cumana, and east of Peru. The hills of Panama from
Nicaragua to Choco, are a detached part of it, probably once an island of
the size of Cuba. Also the Magellanic or Austral region, including the
hills and islands south of Chili, all detached from the Andes, with the
archipelagos of Chiloé, Chonos, Fuego, Austral, Falkland, &c. often
volcanic.
2. The Atacama region, or lowlands along the Pacific Ocean from the
valleys of Darien and Choco to Chili, distinguished by sterility.
3. The Pampas or region of unwooded plains east of the Andes from the
strait of Magellan to Paraguay and Chaco.
4. The region of Brazil, distinguished by fertile hills, mountains and
valleys, forming a vast group of high lands connected to the Andes by an
isthmus.
5. The region of Guyana or Parima, of shady hills perfectly insulated
(once a large island) by the plains of the Maranon and Oronoc.
6. The vast equinoctical plains of Oronoc and Maranon, surrounding the
mountains of Parima: where deserts, swamps and forests are mixed.
These 15 regions are quite natural, distinguished by peculiar physical,
and geological features; but they do not coincide with the ethnological
regions, where the American tribes have spread and intermixed. It would be
difficult to state here even the most striking of these last. It will be
the aim of this work to seek for them, and ascertain their limits; which
have often varied anciently: while in modern times the European colonies
and states have invaded them in all directions.
Meantime the population of both Americas, must be distinguished in ancient
and modern.
In proceeding from the known to the unknown: we ascertain that a multitude
of nations have come to America since 1492, as colonists or visitors. The
principal were
1. _Spanish_: who have colonized or conquered from New Mexico to Chili,
and from Florida to Buenos Ayres. But they came not alone, and have
brought along with them as auxiliaries. 1. Italians, 2. Flemish, 3.
Biscayans, 4. Canarians, &c., while as slaves 5. Moors of Mauritania, and
6. Many African-negro nations.
2. _Portugueze_: who have colonized the whole of Brazil, and brought there
besides many Negro nations, some Moors, Gypsies, Chinese, &c.
3. _English_: Who have colonized the whole eastern side of North America,
Jamaica and other islands of Antilles, with parts of Yucatan, Honduras,
Guyana, &c. But they have brought with them, the Welsh, Scotch, Irish,
Germans, Jews and many African nations.
4. _French_: They colonized Canada, Lousiana, Hayti, several Carib
islands, Cayenne in Guyana, &c., and although conquered in North America
and Hayti, their language remains. They brought along the Provençals,
Bretons, Basks, speaking distinct languages, with several African nations.
5. _Scandinavians_: Who partly settled in North America since the 10th
century, did laterly colonize again Groenland, with Delaware and some
Carib Islands. They include the Norwegians, Danes and Swedes.
6. _Dutch-Hollanders_: Sent colonies to New-York, Surinam, Curazao, &c.
brought Gypsies, Germans and Africans.
7. _Russians_: Have invaded and partly settled the north west shores and
islands of North America; bringing there Cozacs, Calmucs, and several
other Tartarian subjects.
8. Besides these, several other nations have laterly visited America, or
settled therein, blending with the above. All the nations of Europe, even
Hungarians, Polanders, Greeks and Turks, have been brought there. Pirates
of all nations, even Algerines, have wandered to America. Almost all the
nations of Africa have been led there in slavery. Asia has sent Jews,
Hindus, Gypsies or Zinganis, Chinese and Tartars: while Oceania has sent
Malays, Madagascars, Hawayans, &c.
This well known fact of the various and anomalous modern population of
both Americas within 3 or 4 centuries, will greatly help us to form a more
correct estimate of the ancient population and colonization of such vast
countries during many thousand years previous to 1492.
It is not yet suitable to give here a complete list of all the ancient
nations, who have, or may have colonized the Western hemisphere: this can
only be done afterwards as a result of the instituted enquiries on the
subject. Meantime I state as highly probable, even by mere analogy, that
all the nearest nations of the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans, in the Eastern
hemisphere, have either visited or colonized the Americas; particularly
from the east, the bold navigators, Atlantes, Pelagians, Phenicians,
Lybyans, Etruscans, &c., and from the west the ancient tribes of Tartars
and Chinese, the Polynesians, &c. We shall throughout these historical
outlines find ample proofs of this fact, exploding the erroneous belief
that a single nation could have populated the whole of the Western
Hemisphere. It shall appear also that these early settlers must have
brought along many foreign tribes, as auxiliaries, vassals or slaves.
In my Atlantic Journal of 1832 will be found a kind of classification of
the ancient nations of both Americas, divided into 25 groups, 14 in North,
11 in South America. But this first attempt, cannot be perfect: it
requires a close study of all the American languages, before we can
ascertain correctly all their mutual affinities, and reduce each to the
real parent group. Meantime this attempt, and the further correction of it
in this work, will become very useful historical bases. I give therefore
the list of the 25 groups, with a well known nation and language as the
type, to which others may be gradually reduced.
In North America 1. _Uski_ or _Innuit_, type the Esquimaux.
2. _Ongwi_, type the Hurons and Iroquois.
3. _Linni_, type the Lanapi or Delawares.
4. _Wacash_, type the Chopunish, and Nutkas.
5. _Skerreh_, type the Panis.
6. _Nachez_, type the Cados and Chetimachas.
7. _Capaha_, types the Washas or Ozages, and Dacotas or Sioux.
8. _Chactah_, types the Chactahs and Chicasas.
9. _Otali_, Tzulukis or Cherokis.
10. _Atalan_, type the Tarascas.
11. _Otomi_, type the Otomis.
12. _Anahuac_, type the Aztecas.
13. _Maya_, types the Mayas and Huaztecas.
14. _Chontal_, type the Tzendals and Chols.
In South America 15. _Aruac_, types the Haytians, Aruacs, Taos, &c.
16. _Calina_, types the Caribs and Tamanacs.
17. _Puris_, type the Maypuris.
18. _Yarura_, types the Guaraos and Betoys.
19. _Cuna_, type the Dariens.
20. _Mayna_, type the Panos.
21. _Maca_, type the Muyzcas.
22. _Guarani_, type the Tupis and Omaguas.
23. _Mara_, type the Quichuas and Aymaras.
24. _Lulé_, types the Vilelas and Mbayas.
25. _Chili_, type the Chilians.
Notwithstanding the condensed form of these outlines, the ample materials
to be brought together, will extend them perhaps beyond the desirable
limits. In order to lessen this difficulty and yet omit nothing that is
new or important, the work will be divided into three series.
1st. The annals of South America, where many generalities will be
introduced, that need not be repeated in the 2d series, on the annals of
North America.
3d. Illustrations of these outlines, where will be thrown and collected
all the collateral proofs, documents, vocabularies of languages,
manuscript facts and events, essential quotations, and results of all the
investigations.
The Peruvian and Austral regions of South America will first be
introduced, because of paramount importance. By the Peruvian region is
meant the whole western part of South America from the equator to the
southern tropic, and by Austral America, the whole of it from that tropic
to the Magellanic Islands. The gulf of Rio Plata and the river Paraguay,
appear to divide these regions from Brazil, both physically and
historically. Austral America includes the countries and nations of Chili,
Tucuman, Chaco, Buenos Ayres, Patagonia and Magellania; but it shall often
be needful to mention their neighbors, with whom they are more or less
related, and even distant nations that are not always strangers to them.
The ancient nations of Austral America are the least known on many
accounts, and those on whom most fables and systems have been based. It is
there that dwell the _Patagons_, who have been believed a peculiar species
of giants; and those tribes of Chaco, &c., which Azara has deemed peculiar
men, with languages without affinities with any other: which will easily
be proved to be quite false.
If America has had an aboriginal population, or _Autoctons_, men born from
the soil: it is there they should be found, driven to the south and those
remote climes by the ancient colonies of other nations; and they should
offer features, complexions, languages and manners totally different from
any other. If all the Americans derive from ancient colonies, it is still
there that ought to be found the primitive tribes, driven on by the
subsequent colonies and tribes. Therefore these Austral tribes are
exceedingly interesting to study as the most ancient relics of American
population.
But the origin of the American nations and tribes are only to be
considered as a branch of their history. The accounts of their dispersion
and successive settlements, the history of the events which they have
remembered and transmitted to us by traditions or annals, those of the
empires which have been founded there in ancient and modern times, the
study of their civilization and ethnography ... offer surely much more
interest, and a wide field of historical facts or enquiries.
It appears that as soon as we speak of the ancient Americans, we ought to
cut the gordian knot, and say whence they came. I do not wish to explain
beforehand, all my views on this subject. I wish to reserve them for the
results of the enquiries to be pursued in this work. Yet to satisfy the
general curiosity expressed on the subject, I may venture to say that I
have not yet found in either Americas, any people or tribe totally
different from any other, or without philological affinities: nor with
features, complexions, and other physical characters quite peculiar. But
instead, all the ancient American tribes have numerous affinities between
each other, and with races of mankind in the Eastern hemisphere: both
physical and moral, as well as philological.
If the American nations sprung from ancient colonies; it is among the
primitive population of the earth, that their parents must be sought and
found: since America appears to have been partly peopled even before the
flood. Therefore the systems which would derive them all from the
Phenicians, Jews, Chinese, Tartars of later ages, or any single people
whatever, must be absurd and improbable: since traces of many ancient
nations are found in this western hemisphere.
It has always appeared probable to me that most of the ancient colonies to
America, must have come there by the nearest and most direct way; the same
nearly followed again by Columbus in 1492: either from north Africa or
south Europe. This becomes still more probable if there were formerly a
land or large islands in the Atlantic Ocean; of which we have ample
proofs. Nearly all the nations from Florida and Mexico to Chili, appear to
have reached America from the east, through the tropical islands or
Antilles; but the ancestors of these emigrating tribes, dwelt once in
Asia, which appears the cradle of mankind.
However, many nations of Brazil and Guyana are more recent and of African
origin; while nearly all those of North America appear to have reached
America by the opposite direction of Eastern Asia, through Alaska or the
Streight of Behring, once an Isthmus. Therefore the Colonial tribes came
here from the East, and the North West. It is more doubtful that any came
from the West or Polynesia.
What is now needful, is to trace these colonies, their travels, epochas,
and ascertain the nations which they have produced in both Americas. This
I will endeavour to do, without being prevented by the difficulties of the
task. I shall always seek to ascertain the true names of each nation or
tribe: which have often been disguised under a crowd of nicknames and
erroneous orthographies. These names when thus restored will often furnish
an original key, to supply the scarcely known languages, or lost
traditions.
The Brigands who brought desolation over both Americas during two
centuries, and the careless travellers who visited them in search of
wealth, took little notice of the languages and traditions of their
victims or foes. Thus we have to regret the loss of many valuable
materials, merely indicated. However, a few enlightened visitors, and the
missionaries have preserved some of them. The first attempt of the kind
was the outlines of historical songs and traditions of Hayti, collected as
early as 1498 by friar Roman, at the request of Columbus; printed by his
son, and by Barcias. Yet this valuable document has escaped the notice of
nearly all the writers on America! evident proof of utter carelessness or
neglect.
Piedrahita has given some of the historical traditions of the Muyzcas;
Juarros the annals of the Toltecas of Guatimala; Ayeta and Herrera those
of the Mayas of Yucatan. Yet they have been neglected by our historians.
They have merely dwelt, and even sparingly, on the annals of Mexico and
Peru. We have besides fragments on the early history of the Ongwis,
Linapis, Apalachis, Caribs, Dariens, and a few more; but we have to regret
the loss of the written annals of many civilized nations, the Tarascas,
Huaztecas, Zapotecas, Nicaraguas, Chontals, Chilians, Panos, &c. Some of
which may perhaps be yet partly recovered, as those of the Ongwis and
Linapis have lately been.
It is only since last age that the study of comparative philology has
begun to be appreciated: and quite recently that languages have been made
subservient to historical researches. Pigafetta had, however, set the
examples as early as 1520 to collect American vocabularies, of which he
gave two, the Brazilian and Patagon: which are quite important, since by
them we trace both tribes seen by him to the ARUAC race. For lack of
frequent ancient vocabularies, we must often grope in the dark; but I do
not despair to be able to restore many lost languages, by fragments
escaped from the common ruin. I have already succeeded with the _Taino_ of
Hayti, the _Cahiri_ of Trinidad, _Talega_ and _Apalachi_ of North America,
the _Chontal_ of central America, the _Colla_ of Peru, and the _Séké_ of
old Chili; whereby I shall draw some happy conclusions.
Asia has been the country of fables, Africa of monsters, and America of
systems, for those who prefer opinions to reality. The systems and
hypotheses of philosophy or ignorance upon America, exceed all the Asiatic
fables. A crowd of prejudices, false opinions and fantastic theories, have
been asserted on this hemisphere, often mistaking a small part of it for
the whole. Some have declared all the Americans a red, beardless, naked
and barbarous race, or a peculiar species of men. Others that they came
out of the ground or from the clouds, or over a bridge, instead of boats
or on the ice. Others that they are all Jews, or Malays, or Tartars.
Lastly, even that Eden was here and Noah built the ark in America! All
these systems and fifty more brought forth by ignorance or pride, are
based upon the most absurd proofs, or a few insulated facts: while there
are historical facts easy to prove that are neglected or forgotten.
Thus it is a positive fact that many ancient nations of the east, such as
the Lybians, Moors, Etruscans, Phenicians, Hindus, &c. had heard of
America, or knew nearly as much of it, as we did of Australia and
Polynesia 100 years ago. It is as certain that America contained
anciently, as even now, a crowd of distinct nations and tribes; some of
which were quite civilized, perhaps as much as the Spaniards led by
Columbus; the others more barbarous, but not entirely savage. There were
but few, if any, real savages in America, dwelling in woods without social
ties; most of them were wandering tribes of fishermen or hunters.
There were formerly in America as now, tribes of all complexions, as
elsewhere: yellowish, olive, coppery, tawny, redened, brown, incarnate or
white, and even blackened or negro-like. Tall and dwarfish men from 8 to 4
feet in size, called giants and pygmies—men with various frames, skulls,
and features, of all the sorts found in the eastern hemisphere.
The Americans had long before Columbus, large cities; built of stones,
bricks or wood, with walls, ditches, temples, palaces. Some of which were
of immense size and population. One of them _Otolum_ near Palenque was 28
miles long, equal to Thebes, Babylon and Kinoj in size and monuments.
Nearly all the ancient sciences and useful primitive arts were known in
America, as well as commerce and navigation, symbolic and alphabetic
writing, nearly all the Asiatic religions, &c. The most civilized nations
had even colleges and universities, canals and paved roads, splendid
temples and monuments, &c.
It would be tedious to designate all what has not been told, or been very
unworthily noticed, upon America. The whole of these outlines shall be
comments upon the forgotten facts relating to this third of the world.
Such as are found recorded by chance in one or few authors, scattered in
1000 volumes, unsought and unnoticed by nearly all the other writers.
Respecting the chronology of the American annals, it is rather obscure and
doubtful; but perhaps not more so than that of all ancient nations except
the Chinese. It frequently ascends as far as the floods and even the
creation. The most ancient dates are found among the Tols or Toltecas and
Atlantes, Mexicans or Aztecas, the Muyzcas, Ongwis, Linapis, &c. But it is
difficult to make those dates agree among themselves, or with our oriental
dates. However the American annals may be divided into great periods,
which can be admitted as certain, and resting points of history at
peculiar epochas.
Here is their tabular view.
I. Ancient history, ending with Columbus in 1492.
1. _Antidiluvian period_, beginning at the creation, about 6690 years
before Columbus according to the Tols, and ending with the last cataclysm
of Peleg, about 3788 years before Columbus.
2. _Doubtful period_, from that epocha till the reform of Tol astronomy,
1612 years before Columbus. This includes several subordinate periods and
epochas.
About 3100 years before Columbus, settlement of the Linapis in Shinaki or
Firland or Oregon in N. W. America.
About 2500 years before Columbus, wars of the Towancas and Ongwis, the
hero Yatatan, &c. in North America.
3. _Certain period_, from 1612 till Columbus’ arrival in 1492. Many lesser
periods and epochas.
442, after Christ—End of the Tollan kingdom.
492,—Beginning of Atotarho dynasty of Ongwis.
558,—Empire of Tol-tecas begins in Anahuac, and lasts till 942.
840,—Beginning of the wars of Zipanas and Caris in South Peru.
947,—Foundation of the kingdom of Mayapan by Cuculcan in Yucatan.
985,—Discovery of America by the Norwegians.
1000,—Conquest of Quito by the Skiris.
1105,—Beginning of the Incas empire.
1322,—Foundation of Tenuchtitlan or Mexico.
II. Modern history, from 1492 till our days.
1. _Colonial Period_, from 1492 till 1776.
2. _Independent Period_, beginning in 1776. The foundation of the empire
of Brazil in 1822 may begin a subordinate period.
Each age may bear the name of a wise legislator or eminent personage: the
ages of modern history are those of 1. Columbus, 2. Las-Casas, 3. William
Penn, 4. Washington, 5. Bolivar.
CHAPTER II.
MATERIALS FOR THE HISTORY OF THE AMERICANS.—_Authors, Documents,
Sciences.—Languages, Civilization, &c._
Far from following the example of many American historians, who often take
a single guide for their crude compilations, or avoid the trouble to
consult all the historical sources, I have taken care in my researches to
employ all the possible means to reach the truth, and collect all the
facts that are scattered among a crowd of writers. I have carefully
analysed, compared and judged the materials, details and events thus
procured: nay, all the auxiliary sciences have afforded additional
fragments or proofs.
These materials may be divided into 10 series or kinds
1. Works, printed or manuscript.
2. Documents and monuments.
3. Maps, plans, views, &c.
4. Natural sciences.
5. Ethnography.
6. Traditions and annals.
7. Chronology and astronomy.
8. Languages and philology.
9. Religion, mythologies, &c.
10. Civilization, laws and manners.
The writers upon America are very numerous; but mostly defective or local.
A number, however, have attempted to consider the whole continent: the
principal among those containing facts upon all parts of America are
chiefly
Herrera, History and Geography of Spanish America carried till the year
1554.
Delaet, Historical Geography of America, till 1630.
Garcias, Origins of the Americans.—Spanish work.
Carli, American Letters.—Italian work.
Ogilby, History and Geography of America, till 1670.
Raynal, European Settlements in America, till 1774.
Alcedo, Geographical Dictionary of Spanish America in 1786.—Spanish work.
Maltebrun, Improved Geography, 1820.
Touron, History of America, chiefly ecclesiastical, and incomplete, 14
volumes 1768-70, in French.
Robertson, false History of America or Spanish Conquests of Mexico or
Peru.
The collections of travels by Hackluyt, Purchas, Harris, Ramusio, Barcias,
Prevost, &c.
The American researches of Ulloa, Humboldt, M’Culloh, &c.
I have consulted and analyzed all these general works, and many others of
less account; but I have not yet read Hervas nor Compagnone, knowing them
merely through quotations
The first _Bibliotheca Americana_ or catalogue of writers on America, was
given by Kennet in 1701 and 1713. Another appeared in England in 1719; a
third in France in 1820. They contain the names, authors, editions, dates,
&c. of over 300 works relating to America. Robertson has given a list of
nearly as many, which he pretends to have consulted, although he neglected
what they tell us. Humboldt has also a catalogue of 250 authors, consulted
by him. In 1831, Aspinwall published his American Library containing 771
works; and Warden, in Paris, his own, containing 977 American works with
133 atlasses and maps.
All this does not complete the account of books on America; since I have
seen many omitted in all these catalogues; although I never could meet
some mentioned there. I will carefully notice them, that it may be known
where I found my materials, and what may yet have escaped my researches. I
have already consulted upwards of 600 writers on both Americas, and there
are at least 1000 already printed, I mean special or local works connected
with history. If we were to add to these the botanists, naturalists,
paltry compilers, and pamphlets, we might make a catalogue of 3000 works
on America, her inhabitants and productions.
I will refer gradually to them, and have collected them all in my
manuscript illustrations; _materials_, _printed works_. Therefore we do
not lack printed materials: but the choice of the best is difficult: since
many works merely consist in fables, blunders, errors, hypotheses and
their constant repetitions: which ought to be rejected in order to gather
facts and the truth. But we must not reject as pyrrhoniams all that may
clash with our ideas and systems: it is chiefly needful so recall and
restore the events and facts mentioned by the earliest travellers and
observers.
These numerous local writers ought to be divided into three classes. 1.
historians and annalists, 2. travellers and geographers, 3. antiquarians
and philologists. I shall now merely mention the most useful (which I have
all consulted) upon the Peruvian and Austral regions of South America.
1st. The principal historians are, 1. Molina, History of Chili, 2. Funes,
Civil History of Buenos Ayres, Paraguay and Tucuman, 3. Lavega, History of
Peru, 4. Debrizoffer, history of Abipones, 5. Charlevoix of Paraguay, 6.
Techo, on Ditto, 7, 8. Lozano and Jolis on Chaco, 9. Muratori, and 10.
Renger, Paraguay.
2d. The principal writers who have furnished historical facts, with
geographical and ethnographical materials, are _old travellers_, 1.
Pigafetta and Magellan, 2. Cabot, 3. Shmidel, 4. Drake, 5. Cavendish, 6.
Acarete, 7. Knivet, 8. Frezier, 9. Sepp, 10. Brewer, 11. Nyel, 12.
Schmidtmeyer.
_The modern travellers are_, 1. Azara, 2. D’Ulloa, 3. Humboldt, 4. Cook,
5. Byron, 6. Laperouse, 7. Stevenson, 8. Myers, 9. Heyn, 10. Beaumont, 11.
Gillespie, 12. Vidal, 13. Wedel, 14. King, 15. Morrell, 16. Andrew, 17.
Temple, 18. Mawe, 19. Proctor, 20. Graham, 21. Head, 22. Pernetty.
The principal original geographers and ethnographers are, 1. Fernandez on
Chiquitos 1726, 2. Bueno, Ditto 1800, 3. Falkner, on Patagonia 1774, 4.
Molina on Chili and Cuyo, 5. Lozano on Chaco 1733, 6. Skinner, Memoirs on
Peru, 7. Gili, South America 1782.
3d. Lastly the auxiliary writers on philology, antiquities and other
historical branches are, 1. Adelung, Vater, Maltebrun, Balbi, &c., on all
American languages, 2. American researches of Humboldt, Macculoh 1829.
Those of Depaw and Ranking are shameful, perverting every thing to support
false systems.
_Manuscripts._ There are yet many such extant on America, in the libraries
of both hemispheres. Clavigero gave a long list of Mexican Manuscripts.
Funes quotes several on Austral America. There are several extant in
Central America and South America, in Peru and Brazil. Many have been lost
through wilful neglect, or destroyed at the Spanish Conquest, the
expulsion of Jesuits, &c. Those in the ancient languages, Mexican,
Tarasca, Tzendal, &c., are now very rare, and much esteemed. Those burnt
by Zumaraga, the Mexican Omar, have been often regretted. Lord Kingborough
has lately published some at a great cost.
The manuscripts which I could consult on South America are but few. Those
on North America are more numerous and very important; particularly the
traditions of the Linapis, Shawanis, &c., they are chiefly on wood, bark,
skins or Mosaic strings. But I have received several manuscript
vocabularies of the languages of Guyana, Brazil, Texas, Mexico, &c. and I
have consulted several manuscripts in the libraries of Philadelphia.
There are, besides, in the public or private libraries of all the great
cities of both Americas, several interesting historical works, which have
never been published.
There are several in Philadelphia, particularly the historical collections
of Simetierre. Often the best or most important works cannot be printed:
while a crowd of paltry compilations are ushered to deceive the public.
This may be deemed a remainder of the prevailing ignorance and error.
Instead of appreciating the learned and useful works, the prevailing taste
is for historical romances and systematic fables. It is needful to seek
these previous labors, which run the risk of being totally lost, if we
will not have again to blush hereafter for these historical losses.
I give the list of such among my own manuscripts, as have been employed to
write this history. They are yet in my possession, but I wish to see them
deposited in a great public library; where they might be consulted.
1. Materials for the history, ethnography, &c. of the Americans, their
annals, chronology, &c. 40 books, begun in 1820, continued ever since, and
not yet closed.
2. Vocabularies of the ancient and modern languages of both Americas,
symbols, glyphs, &c., 4 books, begun 1824.
3. Comparative geography and ethnography of ancient and modern America, 5
books, with maps, &c., begun 1824.
4. Ancient monuments of North and South America, compared with the
primitive monuments of the eastern hemisphere, 3 books and 200 plans, &c.,
1822.
5. TELLUS, or the primitive History of the Earth and Mankind in Protholia,
Oceania and Neotholia, with the ancient and modern general ethnography, 30
books, begun in 1821.
6. Synglosson, or compared examination of all languages and nations, 6
books, begun 1825.
7. Iconographical Illustrations of all my historical works and travels,
containing over 1000 maps, plans, views, costumes, portraits, alphabets,
symbols, implements, &c., in 10 cartoons, begun 1816.
8. Travels in North America, in 1802, 3, 4, and from 1815 to 1835. In many
manuscript books and journals.
I have often been apprehensive of the fate of Boturini, for these
interesting manuscript and long researches. This has happened already for
one of my manuscripts. As early as 1825 I sent to the Academy of Science
in Boston, a manuscript of 240 pages, being an _account of the materials
yet existing for the history of the nations and tribes of America before
Columbus_. This was for an offered prize of $100: which was never awarded,
although my memoir was declared the best sent. And instead of depositing
this manuscript in the library of the American Antiquarian Society as
requested, it has been _lost_ or _stolen_. If never recovered, and that
the public may judge of the merits of it, at such an early period of my
historical studies: I will state the principal results of my enquiries
therein; which tenor, together with their length, were the ostensible
reasons for not awarding a prize probably never meant to be awarded.
I therein proved in 1825, 1st. that there are yet materials enough,
notwithstanding the loss of many, for an ancient history of America.
2. That a complete American history ought to employ and combine all the
materials afforded by geology, geography, physics, chronology, physiology,
ethnology, archeology, philology, on America, with all the traditions of
the Americans.
3. Geology and physical geography indicates the cradles and ancient
settlements of mankind, the revolutions of nature, the places unfit for
population, the means of access, probable route of colonies, &c.
4. America has an ancient geography previous to 1492, which ought to be
restored.
5. The coincidence of names of nations and tribes, afford a comparitive
concordance, indicating ancient connections or identity.
6. The ancient American population, must have been derived from the
nearest shores of Africa, Europe and Asia. The points where all the
indications and traditions tend, are the Antilles, next Paria and Guyana
in South America; Anian or Tollan and Alaska in the N. W with Sucanunga or
Groenland to the N. E.
7. The philological solution of historical affinities must be sought in
the roots of the languages, their conformity or analogies, the number of
similar sounds, roots and words; which are susceptible of a mathematical
calculation, and referable to the theory of probabilities.
8. Many primitive nations in all parts of the earth, may thus be proved to
have been akin or related.
9. Noah’s flood was nearly general; but perhaps not universal. His ark or
THBE was perhaps Thibet: and his 3 sons 3 nations saved there.
10. It has been proved that all the antidiluvian patriarchs were Nations,
their long ages being the duration of dynasties or states. This opinion
may also be entertained of many other ancient patriarchs or heads of
tribes, every where, by the usual figure of personification.
11. Peleg’s flood was volcanic, not so general as Noah’s. There may have
been many successive cataclysms blended in this, as this has been often
mistaken in date for Noah’s.
12. The cradle of the Tulans or Mexican nations, must have been the Tulan
of Asia, since Turan and Tartary. There are many places called Tula, all
over the earth, indicating settlements of Atlantes.
13. The ancient chronology of America may be restored. Several dates
given, a system proposed.
14. All the races and complexions of mankind are found in America.
15. America was known to the ancient nations, particularly the Atlantes,
Pelagians, Phenicians, &c.
16. Some highlands of America were not covered at Noah’s flood, and might
become the azylums of men, animals, and vegetation. However, but few
nations can be traced to these azylums in America.
17. The ancient monuments of both Americas, are similar to the primitive
monuments of Asia, Africa and Europe.
18. The ancient inscriptions of America can be explained. A key may be
found for all: some are evidently pelagic.
19. The religions of the Americans, were similar to the primitive
religions of the eastern hemisphere.
20. The manners and customs, of the Americans, are very various, and form
no peculiar test.
21. Many American nations were highly civilized, besides the Mexicans and
Peruvians: skilful in agriculture, and the arts, having cattle, colleges,
&c.
My reward for having ascertained and proved those facts, was to be denied
the prize, and to have my manuscript mislaid or lost or stolen! My
historical researches ever since have continued to confirm nearly all
these facts.(1)
2. _Documents and monuments._ The historical titles and proofs,
inscriptions, medals, coins, charters, &c., which are so common elsewhere,
are but few as yet, in America, belonging to early times: most belong to
modern history.
There are some ancient inscriptions scattered in South America; but not
yet published. Molina speaks of one on a pyramid of Cuyo, which late
travellers have not found. Those of Otolum near Palenqué in Central
America begin to excite great attention; and I have sought a key for
them.(2)
Ancient metallic coins and medals, really Americans, are exceedingly
scarce: yet there are some in Central America. Several medals, perhaps
foreign and indicating a communication, have been found, but again lost or
neglected; few have been figured or explained.
Implements, tools, sculptures, objects of arts, pottery, weapons, &c. of
the ancient Americans are found in all the museums; but excite little
attention, by not being concentrated, accumulated nor classified. Many
fine specimens of arts have been melted, or broken and lost. The
astronomical stones of the Mexicans and Muyzcas have been preserved; but
those of Peru and Central America are lost; as well as that beautiful one
of the Talegas of North America, a dodecagone, with 144 hieroglyphic
signs, found in the Ohio, and once kept in a museum of Philadelphia.
The ancient monuments of both Americas, are very numerous, indicating a
dense population in places since become wild and desolate, as in North
America, Guyana, Brazil, &c. They are most numerous in the central parts
of both Americas, and lessen towards both ends. Yet they are met from lat.
45 N. to 45 S. They are very variable in different parts; by no means
identic, indicating different builders or many degrees of civilization,
from the rudest arts to the most refined: employing many materials, earth,
clay, gravel, stone, wood, unbaked bricks; being either irregular
cyclopian structures, or regular buildings of rough or cut stones, _pizé_
or beaten clay, &c.
We do not know as yet one half of those in existence, and many have never
been described nor figured. Yet they afford every where, one of the most
evident and certain base of historical researches, confirming traditions,
or revealing the seats of former empires, their civilization, &c. They
consist chiefly in mounds, altars, tumuli or tombs, ruined cities,
villages and forts, temples and dwellings; but we find besides in various
places, traces of ancient palaces, bridges, roads, causeways, canals,
mines, dromes, baths, pyramids, towers, pillars, rocking stones, walls,
wells, pits &c. They generally resemble the primitive monuments of the
same kind, met with in the eastern hemisphere, from England and Ireland to
Mauritania and Africa, extending east to Lybia, Syria, Russia, Persia,
Tartary, &c. They have less resemblance with the monuments of Egypt,
Greece, Rome, India and China; yet some kinds somewhat assimilate. In
fact, there are, throughout both Americas, three very distinct classes of
monuments, indicating distinct arts and architecture.
The first or rudest, assimilate nearly to those yet used by the rudest
tribes in the north or in Brazil, Antilles, &c., indicating a similar
barbarous state.
The second or primitive, is known by using wood and earth instead of
stones for buildings.
The third or most refined, employed stones, often well cut as in Mexico,
Central America, Peru, &c., and indicates arts nearly equal to those of
Egypt and India.
Besides such great monumental remains; there are lesser antiquities;
fragments of sculpture, statues, idols, painting, Mosaic, &c., either in
metals, stones, pottery, beads, &c., found every where mixed with the
others.
But the most singular and dubious relics of antiquity, are subteraneous or
in excavations: these are in caves, mines, pits, &c.: while under ground
are found trees, stumps, charcoal, ashes, shells, pavements, walls,
houses, &c. that must have been buried by alluvions, diluvions or new
formed soil. It has been surmised or ascertained that some may be
antidiluvian: although those in deep alluvial soils, near streams, and
connected with graves, may have been buried by men, or fluvial
inundations. Mummies, skeletons and bones, with human apparel and
implements have been found in caves, evidently buried there by human
means, and not by floods. Human remains are but seldom if ever connected
with the organic remains of the soil and caves, even of the latest
geological date.
3. _Geography, Maps, &c._ The knowledge of the regions and localities
inhabited by mankind, or where colonies are sent, empires founded, is
needful to history, in order to understand and treat the events and
migrations. The physical configuration of the land, the climates, plains,
mountains and streams, have a great influence on civilization and
communications. Physical geography is constant and invariable: while civil
or ethnographical geography is constantly fluctuating in limits and names.
If we had complete series of maps by chronological order upon America; we
should find therein the materials for a comparative historical geography,
and successive ethnography, showing the gradual revolutions of mankind.
The old maps of America, those of Laet, the old geographers &c. are very
valuable for this object. Many travellers in America, have given original
maps, which furnish similar materials. I have chiefly used for Peru and
Austral America, the maps of Laet, Acarete, D’Anville, Molina, Falkner,
Cochrane, Wedel, the Jesuits, &c. Among the modern general maps, relating
to South America, the Spanish maps of 1810 and 1822, the English of 1815,
the French of 1830, the latest American of Tanner, &c. By those materials
I have been able to trace and fix four periods of American geography, 2
ancient and 2 modern.
I. Primitive geography of America.
II. Ancient ditto, or between 1400 and 1500.
III. Modern colonial geography.
IV. Modern independent geography.
I have formed Mpt. maps of the two first periods, which shall be published
gradually, or in my Illustrations of the Ancient Geography of America. We
have thousands of maps on the early geography of the Eastern Hemisphere,
and no one as yet on the Western Hemisphere! to show the respective limits
and positions of Ancient Empires, Nations, Cities, &c., except Clavigero’s
map of Anahuac at the Spanish conquest, those of Hayti, Laet, &.c.
We have the plans of Ancient Mexico and Cuzco; but lack those of
Tiahuanaco, Otolum, and many more important for ancient history. Several
plans of ancient sites of civilization have been given, along with those
of monuments. I have many in Mpt. yet unpublished. The greatest part of
modern cities, are built on ancient sites, from Mexico to Chili. In North
America, the same happens with Cincinnati, Louisville, Pittsburg, St.
Louis, Philadelphia, Savannah, &c. The views of ruined cities, and those
of actual cities, are partly historical, connected with the knowledge of
gradual American civilization.
Many ancient names of islands, lakes, streams and mountains, are preserved
in actual names. Such are Cuba, Hayti—Ontario, Erie, Titicaca—Ohio,
Alatamaha, Maranon, Parana, Rivers.—Alleghanies, Andes, Parima, Mountains,
&c. When the names have been changed, it is the duty of the historical
geographer to compare the old and new names.
The Mexicans and other civilized ancient nations, could draw and paint
maps. Even our North American tribes can draw rude maps on skins or bark.
Some of these are preserved in museums; but none have ever been published:
although some are pretty correct and deserving it.
4. _Natural Sciences._ They are now becoming sisters of history. Geology
is connected with geography. Botany and Zoology, acquaint us with trees,
plants and animals, which were used in the arts and agriculture at
different periods. The Asiatic origin of maize, called _maza_ by Hesiod
and known to the Pelagians (Hughes Greece,) has been unperceived by
Humboldt and many others, although it throws some light on the early
migrations and communications of tribes. Maize was cultivated in Assyria,
West Tartary, North Africa and Java, before 1492, as asserted by Marco
Polo, Crawford, Raffles. Gebelin, &c.(3)
America had anciently several cereal plants, besides maize, two kinds of
indigenous wheat and barley in Chili. The Quinoa and Zizania, the rice of
South and North America. Many roots, beans, seeds, fruits and flowers,
were cultivated from Canada to Chili. Native dies were abundant, the
indigo and annato were natives. Red and yellow cochineal were nursed and
collected. Many peculiar kinds of cotton, silks, hemp, flax, agave, palm,
&c., were cultivated or collected to use for cloths, threads, ropes, &c.
Paleontology, a new science, seeks for the remains of animals dwelling on
earth, before mankind. America has already afforded the huge mastodons,
elephants, megatherium, megalonyx, as primitive land animals, and many
large reptiles, crocodiles of streams and lakes.
American Zoology is very peculiar: a few arctic quadrupeds, birds and
insects excepted; all the animals of this hemisphere are peculiar to it.
Reptiles almost entirely such, even in the North. All the American monkeys
form distinct species. The tropical animals of the two hemispheres are
distinct, even often in genera. Out of 33 quadrupeds formerly domesticated
in America, the dog only may be deemed a stranger: and it had even many
American varieties.
The domestic quadrupeds of ancient America were 33, while only 25 in Asia,
Africa and Europe. Among them were 4 species of Vicunia, 4 of Agutis, 2
deer, 2 hogs, 10 monkeys, &c. See my dissertation on the domestic animals
of both hemispheres, 1832. Americans had also tamed 22 birds or fowls, as
many as Asia, &c., and even some reptiles, fishes, insects, &c., had
become domestic: altogether 112 in America and only 80 in Europe, Asia,
&c., before 1492.
American botany offers many peculiar regions; in the North only, akin to
Asiatic or European botany; but becoming quite distinct in the tropics,
still more so in Austral America. Since 1492 the European colonists have
brought many plants, that are become spontaneous from Canada to Chili:
these must be carefully separated from the ancient indigenous plants.
The American Floras are nearly as many as the 15 natural regions already
indicated, each having a focal seat or cradle in some range of mountains.
They become richer or more abundant in species within the tropics,
decreasing to the North and South. Trees and palm abound there, and
disappear near the poles, the palms are unknown beyond the 36 degrees
North and South. The equator has 500 species of trees; in latitude 40 N.
and S. only 100 kinds are found, or even less. Social plants and grasses
abound in plains, and in the North dwindle to mosses and lichens.
Trees were early tools of civilization, affording timber, fuel, dies,
houses, boats, weapons, &c. Fruit trees afforded food in abundance: even
the tribes of North America near latitude 40 d. had 40 kinds of native
wild fruits, and had begun to plant orchards of plumtrees, peachtrees,
crab-trees, nut-trees. They knew how to make oils of nuts, to dry the
fruits, make sugars out of maples and other trees.
Fish has always afforded an ample supply of food to early nations, whence
the preference to dwell near streams, Lakes and shores. Notwithstanding
the swimming rambles of fishes, it is only the pelagic or oceanic tribes
of them that are common to both hemispheres. Most of the resident shore
fishes of America are peculiar species. Still more so with lacustral and
fluviatile fishes. These are divided into peculiar regions. Our northern
lakes form one; and almost every large stream has a peculiar generation of
finny tribes: such are the Mississippi, Maranon, Parana, the Atlantic
streams and rivers, those of Brazil, &c.
Minerals abound in both Americas. It was gold and silver that drew hither
the greedy Spanish freebooters. The civilized nations knew mining,
smelting, casting and forging. They used gold, silver, copper, brass,
lead, &c.; collected and prized gems, emeralds, agats, volcanic glass, &c.
Even the less civilized tribes of North America used copper and lead,
clays for pipes, pottery, &c. Iron was scarce because so hard to melt, and
highly prized; but iron-rings have been found as jewels around the wrists
of skeletons.
Metallic coins were little known except in Central America; but bits of
silver, gold, tin, iron, were used as such. The other mediums of exchange
were skins, mats, nuts, cacao, shells, beads, mosaic works, &c. Commerce
was well known to many nations; traders went 500 miles to exchange
commodities in Florida, Mexico, Yucatan, Peru, &c. Navigators went by sea
for the same purpose all over the Antilles, coast of Peru, and in the
great streams. It is thus that were found many strange and foreign
objects, jewels, medals, metals, &c., all over America, and in early
tombs.
5. _Ethnography._ This new science which undertakes to describe nations,
reckons already many peculiar branches. Anthropography or the knowledge of
physical mankind. Philology or the comparative study of human speech and
languages. Besides the nameless branch attending to the moral ideas, arts,
institutions, manners, civilization, governments and religions of mankind;
which might be called moral ethnography.
All these studies become the philosophy of history, and shall duly command
my attention. Some writers neglect them altogether; others, like
Robertson, do not know how to collect and accumulate facts instead of
systems: Rollin has shown in his Ancient History, how useful moral
ethnography may be as an auxiliary: although he omitted philology and
physical facts.
I have studied the men of all the parts of the world, in order to know and
compare them, better than had been done. All the errors on the histories
of nations, proceed commonly from the slender or partial views acquired or
admitted by the writers. There is much to glean on the ethnography of
modern nations, and therefrom we may ascend to ancient ethnography. It
would be needful to study well the physical and moral features of all; the
shapes of bodies, skulls, faces and limbs; the complexions of the skin,
hairs and eyes; with the casual or permanent varieties.
But, above all, we must better study all the spoken languages and
dialects. It is strange that we hardly know anything, and sometimes
nothing at all, on the languages of many existing tribes, with whom we
have intercourse in both Americas. It would be desirable to procure at
least a vocabulary of 100 essential words, in each. Such words, including
the cardinal numbers, will soon become the key of ethnographical
philology. While the additional study of phonology or sounds of languages,
their idioms and grammars, their roots, and verbs, the alphabets, glyphs
and symbols used to communicate ideas, will combine to furnish the
complete knowledge of philology as a separate science. Although I have not
always carried so far my researches; I did so for a few, applying chiefly
myself to the essential features of languages; and the unexpected results
will be surprising.
American anthropography will teach that there were men of all sizes,
features and complexions, in this hemisphere before 1492: notwithstanding
the false assertions of many writers, who take one nation for the whole
American group. The Uskihs, the Puruays, the Parias, the Chons, &c. were
as white as the Spaniards, 50 such tribes were found in South America;
while many tribes of Choco, the Manabis, the Yaruras, &c., were as black
as negroes. All the other shades of brown, tawny and coppery, were
scattered every where. There was not a single red man in America, unless
painted such. Some tribes had scanty beards as the Tartars, Chinese,
Berbers, &c., others bushy beards. The Tinguis or Patagons were 7 or 8
feet high, and the Guaymas only 4 or 5 feet.
6. _Traditions and Annals._ Many American nations preserve a memory of
historical events by unwritten traditions, repeated from fathers to sons;
or communicated orally by the priests, chiefs or elderly men. Many are
preserved yet to this day, by frequent repetitions, being embodied in
songs, hymns, maxims, tales, drawings, or even symbolic figures and signs.
Many of those traditions are precious for history, notwithstanding the
fables, allegories, metaphors, personifications, &c., which partly conceal
them or render the meaning obscure. We must learn to decipher them as we
do old inscriptions and medals.
Although many such are now nearly lost for us, by the extinction of the
living books, who kept the remembrance: there are many already collected,
and of which we ought to make a good use. But there are as many more,
which have never been collected nor printed. I have collected many such in
North America in manuscript. It often happens that the American tribes
will not communicate them to their foes or oppressors; but their friends
and allies may hope to receive the deposit of them. Every enlightened
traveller ought to seek for them wherever he goes. Yet after being
acquired, they are sometimes lost again, by neglect. I have known some
learned and unlearned men despise them equally as _Indian Stories_,
because they despise the ancient American race. There are, however, as yet
many historical songs, poems and tales to collect among all the American
tribes, which falling in good hands cannot fail to attract notice and be
employed usefully. Every one who neglects or destroys them acts as a
vandal. Malcolm has said at the outset of his history of Persia, that we
ought never to neglect the original notions of a people on its origin, or
early history, since therein is found the germ and spring of their
subsequent conduct, actions and opinions.
My illustrations shall contain many unpublished or forgotten traditions,
whereof I shall avail myself in all my historical annals and researches. I
consider those of the Uskihs, Dinnis, Ongwis, Linapis, Shawanis, Cados,
Natchez, Ozages, Atakapas, Apalachians, &c., as highly important for the
annals of North America. The same may be said of the Mexicans, Zapotecas,
Mayas, Toltecas, Chols, &c., for Central America. Of the Haytians, Cubans
and Caribs for the Antilles. And in South America those of the Muyzcas,
Cumanans, Tamanacs, Popayans, Peruvians, Chilians, Brazilians, Abipons,
&c.
7. _Chronology and Astronomy._ These two sciences always go together, and
form a double key of history. The American chronology is by no means fixed
before 1492, and requires a skillful hand to preserve and compare all the
heterogenous dates heretofore collected. I shall attempt to elucidate it
gradually; but may often be compelled, as in geology, to relate only
successive events without dates, and merely referred to a series of
gradual facts. In Austral America, we are told that none had notions of
astronomy and dates, except the Chilians; yet their chronology begins only
in 1450. I doubt this: I rather believe that their oral traditions have
been neglected, as well as those of their neighbours.
In Peru, there are many positive dates, yet I was the first to reduce them
to chronological order. In Brazil and Guyana, but few dates are found. The
Muyzcas had very early dates, yet few have been preserved; much obscured
by personifications of dynasties, and Pietrahita begins their real annals
only in 1490, or 45 years before the Spanish invasion. In the Antilles the
dates are quite loose, and difficult to reduce even to a serial order.
But in Central and Mexican America, we find many early dates with a
regular chronology. Yet some are extravagant or contradictory. I shall
endeavour to elucidate them, so as to reduce the whole to order. They must
form the base of a regular American chronology, that ascends by dates to
the flood and creation. In Yucatan the first regular date only reach to
940 after Christ.
In North America, where the smallest number of dates existed; we have
unexpectedly and quite lately, found that many ancient dates could be
procured. Cusick has published those of the Ongwi traditions, and I have
ascertained those of the Linapis. Both of which reach to the flood and
creation, and afford series of available dates as early as 1600 years
before our era; thus nearly as ample as those of the TOL-tecas, and as
plain in some instances.
Astronomy was cultivated by all the civilized nations of ancient America.
They had cycles of 144, 104, 60, 52, 20, 15 and 13 solar years. Humboldt
has well written on that subject; but much remains to be gleaned. The
northern tribes reckon by generations as the Greeks, the Polynesians, &c.,
and by winters instead of years, moons instead of solar months. They had
also a cycle of 60 years. In Central America, &c. the months were of 20
days, including 4 weeks of 5 days. But the Peruvians had months of 27
days, or 3 weeks of 9 days as the Etruscans. The Muyzcas small weeks of 3
days, &c. No where in ancient America, was found the sabatical week of
days, based on the 7 planets and the 4 quarters of a lunation. This is
remarkable, as evincing a remote antiquity, and separation before this
week was adopted in Egypt, India, Syria, Celtica, &c.
Until 120 years before Christ the TOL-tecas reckoned only 365 days in the
solar year, as the primitive nations of Asia: then they added the hours to
the year. This forms their astronomical era. The Muyzcas had a very
complicated astronomy, and three kinds of years. The usual was of 20
moons, and the ecclesiastical of 37 moons. The horal division unknown in
many parts of America, was of 4 hours in the day for the Muyzcas and
Mexicans, elsewhere of 5, 10 and 20. The 24 hours and the Zodiac of 12
signs with 360 degrees were not known. The Mexican Zodiac had 13 signs and
104 degrees.
Arithmetic is intimately connected with astronomy. A complete decimal
numeration was known to all the civilized American nations, and even to
the northern tribes. The most rude tribes reckoned by 5 or the manual
mode; there are traces also of a binary numeration, the most simple of
all: while others had complex calculations by 13 and by 20 or scores. We
find no trace of any by 7, and but slight indications of a ternary
numeration by 3 and 9. All these American modes of reckoning may thus be
reduced to the _binary_, by two or pairs; and the quinary or manual by the
five fingers, of which the decimal is the double, and by 20 the quadruple.
8. _Languages._ They are becoming one of the most important aids in
history. When the annals are ample and clear, the examination of the
languages is merely a supplement to historical knowledge; but when they
are obscure, mutilated or totally lost; languages then supply more or less
to their defects or loss. Their comparative study furnish us new lights to
ascertain the origines, parentage, dispersions, colonies, alliances, wars,
&c., of the nations thus deprived of written annals or even traditions.
They serve also to rectify the imperfect annals or the fabulous
traditions. This study may lead besides to trace the manners, religions,
intercourse, arts and sciences of nearly all nations; since the proper
languages of each people offers a picture of the civilization, acquired or
borrowed knowledge, modes of life, &c. of each.
It is above all in both Americas that this study is indispensable in
historical researches: I will therefore apply to languages in all cases,
and make constant use of them; and they will unfold new facts quite
unknown, although very important, Historical lights shall thereby be
thrown on many obscure subjects, whence astonishing and unexpected results
may spring, in which I shall depend as much as upon mutilated and
neglectful traditions.
By taking into view all the American languages or as many as are already
known, we shall easily dispel the errors and absurd systems of
philosophers and philologists, who taking only a few as samples of the
whole, have either deemed _all the Americans_, as many Jews, or Tartars,
or Atlantes, or sprung from the ground, and so on. Now the fact is that
these writers have never taken the trouble to compare the numerous
American languages and dialects, reduce them to groups, and seek their
affinities elsewhere.
Adelung and Vater had once stated without proof, that nearly 1200
languages existed in America. Balbi has reduced them to 423, of which 212
in South America; but they can be much further reduced, most of them being
mere dialects. The whole may be comprised in 25 groups of languages, or
even less; which were certainly identic in 25 languages 2 or 3000 years
ago: and all of which have astonishing affinities with the groups of the
eastern hemisphere, so as to indicate a parentage 4 or 5000 years ago.
Vater and Maltebrun have given a few hundred examples of such analogies:
and the systematic writers have supposed that they had exhausted the
comparisons. Yet a single language, the Chilian, has by itself more
affinities with the languages of Europe, than all those mentioned by Vater
and others, put together! The foreign or transatlantic affinities of
American languages, vary from 10 to 70 per cent, according to the nations.
If we suppose that there are 400 languages in America, and as many in the
eastern hemisphere, and each to have about 2000 roots or essential words
only; while the mean affinities are only 25 per cent: we shall find as
many as 200,000 affinities! out of America, in every American language;
and in all the 400, as many as 80 millions! instead of the paltry
reckoning of 1000 or so. All this is susceptible of mathematical proofs,
and shall be unfolded gradually in these pages.
The theory about the common exclusive grammatical structure of all the
American languages, is equally erroneous and based upon partial facts.
Instead of all the American languages being polysynthetic by amalgamating
words, we find in America many mixt forms, and even the pure monosylabic:
while the amalgamation of words prevails more or less in Europe and
Africa; chiefly in the Bask, Italian dialects, Greek, Berber and other
Atlantic dialects, the Negro languages, those of Caffraria, the Sanscrit
and all the derived languages.
It had been asserted that no American language was monosylabic: yet Balbi
states that the Guarani and Maya are such; Nasera has lately proved the
same of the Othomi. Thus we have at least 3 such American groups of
languages. But there are more; nay many American languages have
monosylabic roots, even among the most amalgamated groups.
The most obvious grammatical classification of American languages, has
escaped the acuteness of philologists. I find it in the epithetic
structure, or relative position of ideas. Under this view all the
languages arrange themselves in three great classes or groups. 1. Regular,
2. Resupinate, 3. Mixt.
1. _The Regular_ is the most simple and natural form: where the roots or
nouns are prefixed, and the adjuncts or adjectives, expressing epithetes
or qualities follow or are added. This group includes in the Eastern
Continent 1. All the Semetic languages, Arabic, Hebrew, &c. 2. All the
Atlantic and Egyptian languages. 3. All the Celtic and Cantabrian
languages. 4. All the Polynesian and Malay languages. 5. The Bhotiya and
many languages of Thibet. 6. Most of the Negro languages. 7. Yakut of
Siberia, &c.
In America this group includes my groups 1. Innuit or Uski. 2. Ongwi. 3.
Capaha. 4. Chactah. 5. All the languages related thereto in North-west
America, the Kaluchi, Mandan, &c. 6. All the Guarani languages of South
America, and perhaps many others, Mayna, Mobima, &c.
2. _The Resupinate or Reflexed Group_: where the roots or nouns
substantive are reversed, following the adjective or epithetes, which are
prefixed. This second mode of uniting ideas prevails 1. In all the
languages of China and Tartary. 2. In all the Teutonic languages German,
Swede, English. 3. In most of the Thracian, Illyrian, Greek and Slavonic
languages. 4. In all the Turkish languages of Turan, Bokhara, Turkey. 5.
The Newari of Imalaya. 6. The Qua or Hottentot of South Africa.
In America, it is the most prevailing form, found in my groups 1. Linni or
Linapis. 2. Otali or Cheroki. 3. In all the Mexican and Othomi languages.
4. Chontal. 5. Skereh or Pani and Shoshoni, of North America,—and in South
America. 6. Chili. 7. Yarura. 8. Mbaya and probably many more: although
hardly indicated by the philologists.
3. _Mixt Form_, which employs or adopts more or less the two former modes;
although there is always a prevailing form, that indicates the original
mode of uniting ideas. This mixt form appears 1. In the Sanscrit and all
derived languages. 2. In the Zend and Persian languages of Iran. 3. In the
Pelagic and Italic languages, the Latin, Italian, French, Spanish, Greek.
4. The Japanese, &c.
While in America it is found 1. In the Aruac languages. 2. The Muyzca. 3.
The Peruvian languages, &c. of South America, and in North America. 4. The
Atalan. 5. Mizteca. 6. Opata, and probably some others.
This comparative classification of languages, will greatly help future
investigations. It will show the improbability of the two opposite modes
of annexing ideas having been entertained, by the same people at any time;
while the mixt form evinces amalgamations of ancient nations. We have thus
acquired another clue to trace primitive connections, another available
mean to pursue the human steps on earth.
9. _Religions and Mythologies._ The human opinions on the past and future
form every where ample themes of thoughts and actions. From revelations,
inspirations, oracles, wisdom and priestcraft comingled, have arisen all
the worships, and rites, dogmas and creeds, swaying the human mind,
through hope or fear, love or hatred. The history of religious ideas, is
in fact the history of civilization, since they have sprung together in
social men. Nearly all the religions of Asia (which from hence have spread
throughout the earth along with mankind) were found in America: except the
modern creeds. But the traces of Judaism and Budhism were very faint and
local. Mahometism was unknown, Braminism hardly known. Christianity or
some of its rites are traced to Yucatan only, and may arise from other
sources. The most prevailing worships were the primitive Sabeism, Solar
worship, Polytheism, Dualism or Manicheism, Shamanism or worship of
Spirits, Idolatry, and Fetichism or animal worship. We find throughout
America many modifications of these creeds: with several complex
mythologies, more or less analogous to eastern dogmas.
The investigation of these American religions affords not only an insight
into the ancient civilization, but many proofs of ancient communications
with Asia or Africa. Throughout North America the Dualism, mythologies and
fabulous traditions point to a connexion with Tartary. In Florida, Mexico
and Yucatan, begin to appear the Solar worship, and a cruel idolatry
foreign to it. This Solar worship appears in a purer form in North
America, as far as Peru. While in the Antilles, Guyana, Brazil and Chili,
prevailed several worships of heavenly and terrestial spirits; somewhat
akin to the primitive idolatry of Africa, Europe, Iran, India, China and
Polynesia.
American religions admitted, like many others, of Priests, oracles,
temples, shrines, pilgrimages, holy places, sacrifices, expiations,
confessions, offerings, hymns, veneration for animals, men and stars.
Idols painted or sculptured in wood, pottery, stone, metals, &c.; bloody
rites by human sacrifices, scarifications, circumscision, &c. But none of
these practices were general, some were quite local and circumscribed.
Thus circumscision was only used by the Mayas of Yucatan, the Calchaquis
of Tucuman, &c. Traces of a triple god or Indian Trimurti have been met
from Ohio to Peru; but it was no where the prevailing religion. As the
same idea was found among the Celts and Polynesians, it may have come by
the east rather than Polynesia in the west.
10. _Civilization and Manners._ This completes the history of all nations.
When their annals are well known, it becomes a very proper appendix to
them; when they are not, it is a very needful supplement to the
traditions, &c. But we must not make any history consist merely in such an
account, as often done by negligent writers. The manners and customs of
every people, are so fluctuating, liable to be changed, or improved by
civilization, imitation, arts and sciences, &c.; that they cannot afford
any test of connections. They are often borrowed, from neighbors or
strangers, disused after awhile by whims or wars, invented to suit the
climate and productions it may afford. We have positive proofs that the
Europeans have since 1492 greatly modified the customs of all the tribes
they conquered or visited. This must have happened formerly also, by other
visits or communications. Yet, notwithstanding the uncertainty of the
origin and duration of the primitive American customs, they must be
studied, as one of the sources and objects of history.
We find, in ancient America, nearly all the forms of social civilization
and manners of the east. But the Nomadic life with camels, oxen and sheep,
was unknown, as well as those animals. The American cattle or lamas, &c.
of South America, hogs of Coriana, dogs and rabbits of Mexico, deers of
Florida, buffalos of Taos, were kept by sedentary civilized tribes. The
Nomadic wandering tribes of America were chiefly hunters and fishermen:
scattered around the agricultural nations, spreading from Canada to Chili.
All the kinds of governments were known in America: Theocracy, despotism,
monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy. But the most prevailing were theocracy
among the civilized nations, oligarchy among the barbarous nations: with
two peculiar modifications, of double kings as among Arabs, civil and
military; and chiefs of families or tribes, as among all primitive
nations. Queens were known to but few tribes, although the female line was
often hereditary. Written laws and codes were known to the Tol-tecas,
Mexicans, Mayans, Muyzcas, Panos, Peruvians, &c. Oral laws were elsewhere
preserved by priests or magistrates.
Polygamy prevailed among some tribes or castes, but was not universal. The
4 castes of Indians are distinctly found in nearly all the civilized
nations, often modified into priests, nobles, vassals and slaves. The arts
of music, medicine, smithery, painting, sculpture, architecture,
agriculture, pottery, &c., were well known to nearly all. The sciences of
geometry, geography, botany, astronomy, &c., were cultivated from Mexico
to Peru, even taught in schools and colleges; with the arts, the laws, the
rites, and history of the country.
Marsden has well distinguished several degrees of civilization in Asia. If
no American nation had reached the Greeks and Romans, or our modern
polished and improved civilization; it is not extraordinary. But the
Peruvians, Muyzcas, Tol-tecas, Mexicans, Talascas, &c., were nearly equal
to the Chinese, Egyptians and Hindus in civilization; not far removed from
the European civilization of the 15th century: nay, in some things
superior. The second degree of American civilization found in Chili,
Florida, Cumana, the Antilles, Popayan, the Linapis, Omaguas &c. was equal
to that of the Arabs, Malays, Celts, Cantabrians, Pelagians, &c. While the
third degree found in all the barbarous nations, Innuit or Esquimaux,
Shoshonis, Caribs, Brazilians, &c. was not worse than what we find among
the Fins, Laplanders, Tartars, Sames, Negroes and Hottentots.
Individual property in land was almost unknown in America; but feodal and
tribal property well understood. Common property of tribes and villages
over their territories, was the most usual tenure, modified by wars,
conquests, tributes. Individual property existed only for tenements and
personal property. Warfares, marriages and funerals were very different in
every nation. The weapons of war were clubs, arrows, darts, lances, axes,
Macana swords, Sarbacanes or blowing tubes, slings, nooses, thronged
balls, &c. as elsewhere. There was a peculiar diplomacy, with heralds,
envoys, messengers. Shields, towers, forts, walls, ditches, were used for
defence, besides _Estopils_ a peculiar quilted armor. Flags, banners, and
standards were known. The calumets, leaves or green feathers, council
fires, and white flags were emblems of peace. Alliances and confederations
existed from earliest times, also the adoption of tribes and prisoners.
Slavery was hardly known; but vassalage much extended over conquered
tribes.
Dresses and ornaments were quite various. Seal skins used by the Innuit.
Deer skins and furs by the tribes of North America. In tropical America
many tribes went nearly naked, with a mere apron or pagne of cotton or
grass cloth. But the civilized nations were decently clothed with cotton
shirts and feather mantles. The _Poncho_ is a true American dress known
from Mexico to Chili, hardly known out of America except Polynesia.(4)
Women wore long pagnes or gowns. They made cloths of lama wool in Peru; of
cotton, hemp, nettles, grass, feathers &c. there and elsewhere; either
twisted, plaited or woven. The Peruvians and Chilians had a peculiar loom
and plough. Cotton looms were used in Florida, Mexico, and all over South
America, even by the Caribs to make hamacs or hanging beds. Among some
nations women had the most labor to perform; yet even the men assumed
hunting, making canoes, huts, weapons, &c. More civilized tribes worked
together in the fields: The proud and warlike employed vassals or slaves.
Painting the body or face, was usual among many nations, but not general.
It was useful against heat and flies, or was used to inspire love or
terror. Ornaments to the head, ears, nose, lips, wrists, legs, &c., were
more or less adopted by men and women. The hair was usually worn long; but
many tribes cut it in various ways, as a crown or tuft. The beard even
when scanty was deemed unbecoming by many tribes, and totally eradicated;
but some tribes wore beards. The head was often left uncovered; but hats
were worn in the N. W. and Central America, turbans in Paria and Florida,
feather crowns in the tropics, _Lautas_ or diadem-bands in Peru and the
Andes. Shoes and gloves were unknown; but sandals, leggings, leather
clods, and mocassins or slippers of various substances, commonly used;
with singular snow shoes of bark in winter by northern tribes.
CHAPTER III.
AMERICAN CATACLYSMS _or Considerations on the Periods of American
Geogony, Ontogony, Floods, and ancient population &c. of both
Americas._
History does not merely consist in accumulating facts: these constitute
the annals of empires; but the real philosophical history has a nobler
aim. It seeks results, teaches lessons of wisdom, brands with infamy the
foes of mankind, and inspires veneration for the benefactors of the human
race. It presents examples worthy to be followed, and records the crimes
to be avoided.
The several departments of history that are distinguished as biography,
civil and ecclesiastical annals, moral and physical surveys of mankind,
comparative philology, archeology, chronology, mythology, &c. All combine
to instruct and amuse, to record the past and present, and to lead to
better future actions, an improved social order. The nations often forget
the wise lessons of time and experience; but they are continually recalled
to memory and view by the historians, who seek the truth, and setting
aside the sway of human passions or national prejudices, present the
faithful mirror of history to the eyes of posterity.
Such is my aim. American history has been so much despised or perverted,
that few lessons, have been drawn from it: yet it affords ample scope for
reflection, study and admiration. Nearly one half of the habitable globe,
during all the past ages, cannot fail to offer a variety of subjects, to
draw the attention of philosophy, wisdom and philanthropy: that mutual
benevolence of mankind, which ought ever to be felt; but is so often
discarded or forgotten through the contrary tendencies of pride, lust,
cupidity, and all the baneful passions.
The connections of historical facts with all the sciences, afford another
useful theme; that may vastly increase our comparative knowledge: much of
it has arisen, besides observation, from accurate comparison, analysis and
generalization, which combine to give results, enlarging the field and
sphere of human knowledge, in all its branches.
If we go back, by the help of geology, to the most remote periods of
existence and life in this hemisphere, we find it like the remainder of
the globe, immersed under the Ocean. There, in the depths of the briny
waves, the actual rocks now supporting the dry soil, were formed and
matured: superposed and intermingled by aquatic and volcanic phenomena and
cataclysms, if not by superadded aerial depositions. Then were formed the
primitive strata of America, ere life had begun to vivify the waters; then
were cast the Porphyries, Granites, Shales, Basalts, and other primitive
or volcanic rocks, that are now chiefly found in Boreal and Western
America, the Andes, Mts. Parima, and Brazil, the Austral and Boreal
Islands, Hayti and the Antilles. This was the first period of terrestial
Creation.
After this period of unknown length, began the epocha of aquatic life;
when the breath of GOD, moving on the waters, gave life and motion to
organized aquatic beings; 1. Plants and Fucites, 2. Spongites and
Alcyonites, 3. Polyps and corals, 4. Worms and radials, 5. Sluggs and
shells, 6. Mollusca and Cephalopodes, 7. Trilobites and Crustacites....
All incipient vegetating beings, or inferior unbony animals, gradually
evolved and born in the waters of the Sea.... Followed by the more perfect
vertebrated aquatic animals, 8. Fishes and Sharks, 9. Snakes and reptiles;
lastly, 10. Seals and whales. Some of which require shallow water, to
dwell and breed.... This was the second period of American Creation:
_Aquatic life_.
The third epocha is that of the destruction of aquatic life, by cataclysms
and depositions, submarine volcanic cavernous eruptions or other causes,
throwing suddenly in a soft, sandy or muddy state, the substances that
have formed the secondary mountains or strata of psamites, argillites,
calcarites, carbonites, &c., that overwhelmed the aquatic tribes in their
way; which becoming therein entombed as living medals of this globe,
declare to us these mighty successive cataclysms or floods of sand, clay,
lime and coal; now met in vast regions, the Alleghanies and Central North
America, Florida and the Bahama Islands; the hills and plains of Brazil,
Chili, East Peru, and Central Maragnon.... This was the second period of
terrestrial formation in America, the third of successive eventful
periods.
The fourth must have been the rise of the land above the waters, if not
already partly begun. The epocha of terrestrial upheaving and distortion
of strata, by an awful inward force; either volcanic, or calorific, or of
growing crystalization; forming mountains and islands, raising them above
the Ocean; to become the nucleus of future Continents. The American
hemisphere had then probably two great islands, in the North and South,
with many smaller islands between them, in the tropical sea: the Alleghany
and Atlantis forming two others in the east, and many others studding the
two polar regions. The insulated mountain tract between Lake Nicaragua and
the long valley of Choco, must then have formed another Island of the
Antilles. Guyana or Parima was also another large island: while Brazil was
a vast peninsula attached to the Andes. I have endeavored to express this
first configuration of America in my two maps of North and South America;
when the Ocean was yet about 500 feet higher than it is actually. Whether
this cataclysm was contemporaneous throughout, or by successive throes
must be ascertained by Geogony.... This was the fourth period of
terrestrial events in this hemisphere; but the first of terrestrial
separate existence.
When the dry land had appeared, the creative power of GOD exerted upon the
virgin mould of the mountains, drew forth into life, Plants and Flowers,
Trees and Palms; with the successive terrestrial animals, 1. Worms and
Slugs, 2. Insects and Spiders, 3. Snakes and Reptiles, 4. Birds and Fowls,
5. Beasts and Bats. Streams began to flow, valleys were excavated in the
soft or yielding strata by heavy tides and powerful streams: then the
fishes of the sea ascended the rivers, and filled the streams and lakes. A
few shell and other aquatic animals sent also colonies into fresh
waters.... This was the fifth period of terrestrial events; that of
terrestrial life.
Meantime the land was continuing to rise, or the ocean to sink; the dry
soil was extending: land volcanoes began to appear in the Andes and
elsewhere, overwhelming some living tribes. The carbonic volcanoes had new
paroxysms, slaty mud involved terrestrial plants and trees in successive
eruptions: the clay mud or colored sand was forming tertiary strata on the
shores, involving sea animals, shells, reptiles and fishes.... This was
the sixth period of terrestrial events, that of land volcanoes.
After all these; mankind was created by GOD, and appeared as lord of the
earth, and the complement of living creation.... This may be deemed
another Period, if we like; although it was but the complement of the
terrestrial living productions, begun in the 5th, and probably proceeding
in the 6th. Where the first man or men appeared and dwelt, is unknown or
very dubious. Asia is commonly deemed the first dwelling of mankind, and
Central Asia or Thibet the cradle of our race: although China, India,
Arabia, Syria, Ceylon, &c., claim the same honor. But few authors have
placed this cradle in America, and even then not for the _Adamites_. Yet
America had some inhabitants before the flood, if we are to believe the
concurrent traditions of many American nations; who keep the memory of it,
and point to their refuges.(5)
Of these American Anti-diluvians we know little or nothing: their traces
are few and uncertain. It would be otherwise if we could identify them
with the anti-diluvian _Atlantes_, or find their diluvial remains. The
skeletons found in Guadaloupe, and on R. Santas of Brazil, by Captain
Elliott (described by Meigs in the transactions of American philosophical
society 1827) in tuffa with shells, may have been buried there; like the
mummies of many American caves. Some of the American mounds have appeared
anti-diluvian; but the fact is not well proved. The subterranean
antiquities are also of an equivocal character. The town of log houses
lately found in Georgia, buried under golden clysmian soil, cannot be so
remote; the soil instead of diluvial, may be a deep alluvial. All the
facts on these remote times, shall be hereafter collected, presented and
examined carefully.
Thus, has been presented by geological results, a rapid sketch of the
American periods, to the birth of mankind. These 6 periods or _yums_, are
well ascertained as to succession; but their duration is unknown: and each
of them includes several subordinate periods; which it is not needful to
investigate in these outlines. The works on geology may be consulted if
required. These 6 _yums_ or great periods do not answer exactly to the 6
_yums_ or manifestations of the mosaic cosmogony, since geogony begins
only with the 3d, ending with the 5th.
Such oriental accounts are always deserving our attention, and susceptible
of the deepest philosophical commentary, as they mainly agree with all the
detected facts. But there are at least 3 accounts of the creation or
cosmogony in the _Sepher_ or Hebrew Bible. 1. That of Job. 2. Of Moses in
chapter 2d of Genesis from verse 4 to 25; in both, no _yums_, days nor
periods are mentioned. 3. The usual mosaic account of chapter 1st. ending
only at ch. 2, v. 3. Even in this usual account more than 7 periods can be
found, including heaven, earth and men.
These are the real Mosaic periods, with his own names, very different from
the subsequent Jewish names, in various dialects.
1. PERIOD OF TIME OR YUM. BRA-SHITH Real beginning or Real Supreme Being
producing ALEIM the Angels, SHMIM Heavens, and ARTZ Earth.
2. YUM. THEU-UBEU Chaos, and THEUM Abyss, with RUH Spirit of God.
3. YUM. AUR Essence of celestial light or Ether. First divine
manifestation of _Mshe_ or Moses.
4. YUM. RKIO Expanse or sky, diversion of aerial and celestial fluids. 2d.
5. YUM. Sea and dry land, upheaving of land over the waters, or subsiding
of the ocean. Vegetation. 3d.
6. YUM. Sun and Moon appearance by a change in the misty atmosphere? with
XUXBIM stars? 4th.
7. YUM. Fishes and Fowls, &c. 5th.
8. YUM. Beasts and cattle, with ADM mankind or human emanation, our Adam,
ZXR male, and NKBE female. 6th.
9. YUM. _Shbioi_ seventh manifestation, _Aleim_ became IEUE Jehovah, the
living-self-with-self, the supreme or powerful self.
10. YUM. AD emanation, our mist.
11. YUM. ADM into GN or _Gan._ our Eden.
12. YUM. OTZ Growth, of lives with good and evil.
13. YUM. NER 4 flowing emanations or streams.
14. YUM. ASHE Intellectual man-mate, called afterwards EUA living
existence, our Eve.—Self-with-life.
All these periods should require long comments, and discussions, rather
physical than historical. It is by no means certain that the sun and moon
are implied in the 6th yum. The text says a couple of MARTH Centralities
EMAUR-GDL and EMAUR-KTN Self-great-ether greatest and lesser. Some have
seen here the solar and lunar dynasties of Asia. The XUX-BIM might be the
XRUBIM of later times. The real sun and moon may belong to the _yum_ of
AUR. The stars, according to Job, were in existence before the foundation
of the earth, and our astronomy teaches this implicitly.
In this cosmogony, the heavenly creation takes 4 periods. The grass grows
by light before the sun had appeared through the misty atmosphere, and the
fishes come after the land and herbs, at the same period with fowls. Our
actual geology does not confirm this last fact; but a proper explanation
of the biblic words would confirm the truth.(6)
Many still consider AISH intellectual man as the human race, previous to
_Adam_, father of the Adamites; but the concurrent proofs are very
slender: nor is their posterity known; unless _Nahash_ or the snakes,
_Elohim_ or the sons of God, the _Rephains_ or giants, and the _Nephilim_
or apostates, be considered as such. Indications of races of men different
from the Adamites may be collected both in the Bible, and in all the
ancient annals of China, India, Iran, &c.; but no positive connected
account has ever been made out as yet.
The _Nahash_, _Hareth_ or _Satan_ of the Bible, is identic with the
_Nagas_ (snakes) of the Hindus, the _Zabul_ and _Dives_, (devils) of Iran,
evidently men, and foes of the Adamites: they are also the U-long or
antidiluvian dragons of China. In America the satanic notions will be seen
in the respective account of religions. They often assume in this
hemisphere the appearance of volcanic ideas, or of a vampire malignant
being. But the nations of the Linapi group connect the ideas of devils,
snakes and foes, all called _Ako_ or _N’akho_ very similar with _Nahash_
and _Nagas_. They assert that they were created by the Evil Spirit, were
always foes of real men; that they caused the flood, and went afterwards
to America before the Strait of Behring was formed.—_See_ Linapi
Traditions.
The ALEIM, _Elohim_ or _Egregori_ or angels of the Hebrew were instead
sons of God, and Moses ascribes to them the creation of the earth; while
Job ascribes it to _Eloah_, the real God. Herder has said that we shall
never understand well the mosaic history, until we ascertain who were
these _Elohim_ and _Cherubim_(7) dwelling on earth. My dissertation on
anti-diluvian history may perhaps help to clear the matter; meantime it
may be stated that they appear to be the HO-LO of anti-diluvian Chinese
history, or LO-LO of their post-diluvian annals. Perhaps also the
celestial emperors beginning the history of China: the _Alorus_ first
dynasty of Assyria before the flood: the _Ang_-ELOS and P’EL of the
Pelagians. Also the H’ELLO (old men) of the Egyptians, the PELEI (old men
or ancestors) of the ancient Illyrians, the LAHI or ancient Thibetans.
They may be the ELEI or ancient Persians, the _Peris_ or _Pelis_ of Iran,
ancient beneficent beings. The Arabs and all the Semetic nation have
preserved that name for God, in EL, _Allah_, _Baal_, or made of it their
universal article _El_, _Al_, meaning HE or _the Being_: whence also the
Pelagic and Italic articles IL, L, LI, &c., the Spanish EL. By the
frequent usual change of L into R, we have ER root found in many languages
for men: forming the _Heros_ of Greece, sons of God; the HER or lords of
the Germanic tribes, the _Seres_ of Thibet or ancient Chinese, _Ergaz_ men
of the African Atlantes. _Erk_ man in Turkish or Turan Atlantes, akin to
_Egregori_!
In America these similar indications are widely spread, and among the most
ancient nations. EL means man in Tolteca and Mexican, OL is old and
_Yollo_ a spirit or angel. EL is son and tribe in Hayti, _Elohi_ is land
and spirit in Tzuluki. _Yol_ means _man_ in the Atakapa language of the
Cado or Nachez group. _Pele_ means the same in Lulé of South America; but
_Peli_ is soul in Chilian, which approximate to _Peleg_ and _Lelex_,
ancient Pelagian tribes. The connections with TEL, TAL, TOL, pervade the
whole of ancient America, and lead to assimilate with the TOL-tecas and
TALAS, American Atlantes, the Tulans or Asiatic Atlantes, the _Auto-Toles_
or African Atlantes. These lead to the giants of both hemispheres or
ancient men of renown. But the subject must be postponed, and will be
found resumed in the history of Austral and Central America, where these
atlantes and giants are found.
Returning from this digression; we may resume the geological periods of
America previous to mankind, in the six successive epochas, already
mentioned.
1. Period. Primitive, aquatic and before life.
2. Period of aquatic organic life.
3. Period of aquatic cataclysms.
4. Period of the dry land or islands.
5. Period of terrestrial life.
6. Period of terrestrial volcanoes.
After which begins the human period, till the flood. The question whether
man or men appeared together, or before or after, in both hemispheres;
must be left undecided. Some writers have even placed _Eden_ the GN of
Moses in America and the Hesperidian Islands of old; but as the Imalaya
mountains, valleys and plains, are higher than the Andes, older in
geological series, and more suitable for human life, not being volcanic:
it is extremely probable that they were the cradle of mankind, rather than
America.
Yet men reached America before the flood, and were here at this eventful
period. But we are ignorant of the precise way they came, and how they
reached this land which was then only a group of large islands, unless
North America was united to Asia by Behring Strait, as very probable. The
clearest traditions point to the east, Africa and Europe then united at
the Strait of Gibraltar, and the Island Atlantis as a stepping place. The
Mexican traditions point to Asia, by two different opposite quarters, the
east and the north west. The Uskis or Innuit nations are late comers by
the north west. The Linapi nations, although earlier, came the same way,
and over the ice of Behring Strait, after its disruption. The Hongwis came
the same way, although they boast of being Autochtones, as did the Greeks,
which we know in both instances to be false.
The Nachez nations say they came from the east. The Olmecas or earliest
people of Anahuac point that way also; although both speak of an American
flood. The Haytians and Cubans were also of eastern origin, like all the
Aruac nations; but remembered the flood and parceling of the islands. The
Carib nations appear postdiluvians and the last come in South America; yet
the Tamanacs one of the group speak of an American flood. The Guarani call
themselves eastern men, and came from Africa after the flood. It is in
South America, the Andes of Chili, Peru, &c., that a positive memory was
found of several floods and cataclysms, in or near the Andes, which gave
refuge to several tribes. Yet it is there also that the most obvious
philological affinities are found with North Africa and the shores of the
Mediteranean; while many invasions of foreign later nations are recorded,
&c.
All these antidiluvian notions, and accounts of the American flood, will
be carefully collected and given. This will form the first period of human
history in America, extending to 2262 years at least, according to the
computation of the 70; the most plausible of all. The Tol-tecas reckon
nearly the same time between their period of creation and their main
flood: or with trifling differences, less than the various terms of
Josephus and others; but various other calculations are found in Anahuac.
Such a period of 23 centuries was certainly sufficient to people America,
and fill it. The Cainites or Cabils have been deemed parents of the
Atlantes and Africans. They were skilful, powerful and wicked, inventing
agriculture and arts, building cities &c.: while the Sethites invented
astronomy, letters and dwelt in tents. If the American Atlantes were
antidiluvian, they must have sprung from the Atlantes Cainites, KIN of
Moses.
In 1170 years after Adam, the _Egregori_ angels of Mt. Ima, came to Mt.
Hermon, in 20 tribes, under their king Semi-Azar, and uniting with the
Cainites, gave birth to the _Rephaim_, _Nephilim_ and _Eliud_, tribes of
Giants, tyrants and Canibals: who made war on the angels and men. They are
said in the Bible to have gone to _Sheol_ (the lower world or South
America) with their king Belial: where they were drowned by the flood.
_See Universal History._
The Giants dwelt in _Talo-tolo_, the world _Tolo_ of the Hindus, where we
find the _Tol_-tecas (Tol-people:) therefore America: called also _Atala_
and once sunk in the waves; like the Atlantis of the Greek, whose Atlantes
were also Giants or powerful men. The Egregori have been deemed the Titans
of the Greeks, and Atlas was a Titan. Although Gigantic Nations existed in
America, the Talegas, Toltecas, Caribs, Chilians, &c. being often such:
the term Giant must always be understood to refer to powerful perverse
men. The names of _Rephaim_ and _Nephilim_ appear unknown in America,
being mere Hebrew epithets for giants and apostates.
During this primitive period, geological and physical changes probably
proceeded in America. The plains gradually appeared, but full of marshes,
lakes and wide streams, muddy volcanoes, snakes, crocodiles and obnoxious
animals. Which must have assailed mankind and greatly impeded their
settlements. Although the lives of men were perhaps longer than now; yet
it is probable that the long lives of the Patriarchs of this period,
allude to as many Dynasties or gradual nations sprung from each other. In
this I agree entirely with the learned Hebrew scholar D’Olivet.(8)
Huge beasts and carnivorous animals, dwelt then on earth; in America
several species of mastodons, elephants, oxen, megatherium, megalonyx,
hyenas, bears, &c., which prowled in plains and caves. The temperature of
the earth was higher; little clothing was needed. Men were at war with
beasts, and among themselves. Violence predominated in many regions, and
Noah one of the _M’nus_ of the Hindus, a patriarch of the Adamites, a
prophet according to the Arabs, went over the earth to preach against this
corruption. Not being attended to, he foresaw that a great calamity would
befall for these iniquities, and he prepared himself a THBE or refuge in
Central Asia: where he collected his relations and friends. Some say they
were 72, our translations of Moses reduces them to 8; but his 3 sons of
Noah, are evidently as many tribes. The THBE of Noah contained therefore 4
tribes, including his own, and many individuals, besides a multitude of
animals.
I do not give now the history of this flood. Before it can be given
accurately, we must collect all the scattered traditions about it, compare
them, and omitting all fabulous and obviously impossible details, form a
narrative of the whole facts. The notions and traditions of the Americans
are very various, as they do not always point to this flood. We find them
asserting that men were saved in mountains, or caves, on rafts or boats.
Few, if any, allude to an ark, but all to a refuge as THBE. Those of
Mexico and Peru, are contradictory, alluding to several floods, and
particularly the subsequent of Peleg.
The most explicit traditions on that score are those of the Linapi
nations; although the tribes vary the tale, the holy song of the real
Linapi tribe, alludes clearly to a great flood in Asia: when their nations
at least was partly saved in _Tula_ (the turtle land) in Central Asia, by
the help of a goddess, and Noah or _Nana-bush_. The men were then called
_Linowi_ and _Linapi_: two other races of men were saved, the _Owini_
(beings) and the _Tulapewi_, turtlings or atlantes. Besides these foes the
_Maskanako_ (strong snakes), _Nakowa_ (dark snakes), and the _Amangamek_,
monsters of the sea; who caused this dire flood. These notions are
strikingly similar to the Asiatic and Hindu fables about the turtle saving
mankind at the flood. _Nana-bush_ is evidently Noah, his name means
_Noah-Noah-hare_, or the _Great Noah_ and _Hare_.
The Chinese accounts of the first flood, do not allude to any ark, but
mountains were the refuge of mankind. The Hindu account is very near the
mosaic; but has no boat, and many persons were saved. The accounts of the
Assyrians, Arabs, Tartars, Egyptians, Lybians, Greeks, Celts, Polynesians,
&c. are all different. The mosaic account was borrowed from some ancient
source now forgotten. It is said that Noah himself wrote an account of the
flood, and preserved ancient records. Divesting the mosaic account from
the supernatural and the impossible, we obtain the real tradition of a
great aquatic cataclysm. Either a sinking of some lands or an irruption of
the ocean, attended with volcanic floods of waters from the Caspian sea
(as Humboldt says,) heavy rains, and a change of climate: which overflew
the earth or most of it; except some _Thebas_, refuges in mountains,
_swimming_ over the waters, as it were: there some men and tribes, many
animals, trees and plants were preserved: to spread afterwards again over
the earth.
After this flood, America was left pretty much as it is now, except that
the shores were higher yet, many flat plains inundated and full of
marshes. The Antilles yet united in larger islands and perhaps with
Cumana. The Strait of Choco nearly filled up: and diluvial soil, gravel,
sand, boulders and organic remains scattered over the land, the hills,
plains and caves. Many fierce beasts had disappeared, vegetation had been
destroyed wherever the flood went; but the buried seeds, and those of
mountain plants gradually grew or spread again. The terrestrial animals
and birds saved in the mountains, spread themselves again over the earth.
Mankind in despair at the disaster, kept for a long while on mountains,
and did not occupy again the desolated hills and plains, until many years
after.
The Chinese account of this flood, state positively that it was attended
with a change in the length of the year, formerly of only 360 days, a
change in the seasons, an increase of cold, rain and winds: compelling men
to dress in skins and mats. Also that the wild beasts and snakes driven to
the mountains, became very troublesome, men being compelled to defend
themselves against their attacks.
The Rev. Gleig in his late history of the Bible, where like Hales and
Russel, he has at last adopted the computation of the Septuagint and
Josephus, reckons 5411 years from Adam to our era, the oriental Christians
reckon 5508 years, the Toltecas, reckoned 5099 years. Gleig puts Noah’s
flood 2259 years after Adam. The Chinese and Hindu chronology are partly
fabulous; but may be reconciled to these periods; as well as to the second
cataclysm of the earth; that of Peleg according to the Biblists. The only
knowledge the Bible gives about it, is that the earth was split, broken or
divided, in the time of the patriarch or dynasty of Peleg; who lived or
lasted from 531 to 870 after Noah’s flood. But David has sung this
cataclysm in the 18th psalm. The Chinese account brings this second flood
to the year 2296 before Christ, or 858 years after the former. The Hindu
account concealed in many fables agrees also with this period. But it
appears to have lasted longer, and many years. It is evidently in date the
mistaken Hebrew flood, blending both into one, and annihilating the place
between them. The Chinese account distinctly speaks of both, the first was
under _Yunti_, the second under _Yao_, and 42 emperors are mentioned
between the two floods.
In America, it is often difficult to distinguish which is meant by the
various imperfect traditions: yet in Mexico and Peru, there are at least
two cataclysms mentioned by the annals or traditions. Also among some
northern tribes. The Linapi annals or songs allude to the second, which
broke by volcanoes the _Lusasaki_ (burnt land) and separated America or
_Akomenaki_ (snake island) from Asia to Behring strait.
Thus the real antidiluvian periods lasted nearly 3000 years from Adam’s
epocha, or 3212 by oriental computation. The interval between Adam and
Noah ought to be called the Adamic period, that between Noah and Peleg’s
floods the Noahic period. It was at this last convulsion that the earth
took its actual form. The Straits of Gibraltar, Calais, Messina,
Hellespont, Bosphorus, Babelmandel, Behring, Malaca, Sunda, &c., were then
formed. The Atlantis Island in the Atlantic Ocean and the Island Lanca in
the Indian Ocean were sunk. The Azores, Madeira, Canaries, &c. are
fragments of the Atlantis: Ceylon, Madagascar, &c. the fragments of
Lanca.(9)
In America, the Boreal islands may have been broken, like the British
islands of Europe. Some suppose that they might once join together with
Iceland. The Antilles were split in the actual form—Behring Strait divided
America from Asia. The Polynesia lands were broken or sunk. The lowlands
of Chili, Peru, and the Atlantic shores were inundated and then partly
left dry by huge volcanic tides. This cataclysm was not a mere aquatic
flood; but a violent volcanic flood, having at least three great focusses,
1. in the North Atlantic Ocean, 2. In the Indian Ocean, 3. In Polynesia or
the Pacific Ocean. In China all the lowlands were overflowed and partly
overwhelmed. The great Islands of Java and Sumatra were formed; which
formerly were united with Asia and several islands in the vicinity, under
the remembered name of _Sunda_ land.
If mankind had not reached America before Noah, it must surely have
reached it before this second cataclysm. The Atlantes were in the
neighbourhood and bold navigators, as well as the primitive Pelagians,
Lybians, Cantabrians; bearing then various peculiar names, mostly traced
in America. Twenty American nations have distinct remembrance of this
splitting of American lands and islands; local or partial floods, less
general and disastrous than the former.
This cataclysm was not so deadly to animals and vegetables as the former;
but it must have destroyed them in several sunken islands: and have added
second clysmian strata to the soil of the plains: with many volcanic
productions, chiefly clay and sand, limy and marshy muds. The memorials,
annals and traditions of the American nations are very scanty on this
period; difficult to be distinguished from the Adamic: while the monuments
to be referred to it, are not easily traced, nor distinct in form. The
_Linapi_ tribes had not yet reached America, and dwelt in Asia; but by
their account the Snake tribes _Akowi_ went to America in that period, led
by _Nakopowa_ (the Snake priest); it is even hinted that they caused this
cataclysm or at least the separation of Asia and America, at _Lusasaki_
(burnt land), in order to escape their foes, the _Elowi-chik_ (hunters) of
the _Linnapewi_, the original manly people.
CHAPTER IV.
GENERAL VIEW _of the Ancient and Modern Annals of Both
Americas.—european Colonies, Modern Fate Of Nations, Late Physical
Changes, &c._
After these floods begin the primitive annals of mankind in America as
elsewhere; but still scanty, obscure and involved in fables, by
personifications of tribes, metamorphoses into animals, plants, fruits or
even stones and mountains. The origin of nearly all the nations is neither
clear nor well ascertained, by their mere annals; but the collateral
proofs of the languages facilitate the enquiry. Those who have the most
positive facts of primitive times are the Ongwis, Linapis, Toltecas,
Tainos, Peruvians, &c.; but commonly destitute of dates and correct
details. We ought not to be surprised at this, since even in Asia (except
in China,) we possess nothing but fragments on those times; while the most
polished nations of oldest times, the Egyptians, Greeks, Persians, Arabs,
Jews, &c. have involved their early histories in fables, mythologies and
false dates.
However, whatever might be the early origin of the American nations, it
may be collected from all, that in the ancient periods; they were few in
number and in population; principally confined to some peculiar seats of
civilization: such as the regions of Apalacha, Hayti, Anahuac, Oaxaca,
Chiapa, Maya, Cundina, Oronoc, and Peru. We have positive proofs of early
empires and splendid monumental cities at Teoti-huacan, Otolum, Coban &c.
in Central America; and in South America at Chimu, Tiahuanaco &c.; while
cities and monuments of a lesser order or size, were scattered afterwards
from the Lakes of Canada and the River Ohio, to Chili and Brazil: probably
through the dispersion and colonization of these early empires or
states.(10)
After they had filled the most fruitful or suitable regions, carrying with
them agriculture, domestic animals, religion, laws and various graphic
systems: they were invaded by tribes less civilized; but more warlike;
principally in North America, and in Guyana, Brazil &c. Many revolutions
must have followed these contests: some of which are recorded in the
Apalachian region of the United States, in the Mexican table land, in
Hayti &c. and by the Muyzcas, Peruvians &c. further south: while in Guyana
and Brazil the annals are lacking, and the traces of these conflicts but
faint; yet certified by some traditions and the new tribes introduced.
The solar worship prevailed among the most civilized nations and empires:
that of Naguals or Zemis (spirits) among those of the second degree. The
least civilized nations had either adopted the Dualism or a mixed
religion: while the barbarous tribes knew only a kind of _Tao_ religion as
in China,(11) or a fetichism, venerating one or many objects of nature.
But these four main worships, were subject to many fluctuations, and
diversities: they had often degenerated into a Polytheism, and idolatry,
with various rites, and some cruel customs, human sacrifices &c. A kind of
priesthood was almost universal and formed a peculiar caste in many
states. The legislators and rulers had often been priests, and became
pontifs as well as kings, in Cuzco, Chimu, Tunca, Mayapan, Cholula,
Manazicas &c.
During a period of 2 or 3000 years after the floods, the earth had
undergone many changes by volcanoes, earthquakes and the subsiding of the
sea. Many valleys were drained, their lakes lessened or disappeared; the
shores of the Atlantic from New Jersey to Florida and Yucatan, and from La
Plata to Magellania, as well as those of Peru, Chili &c. were increased by
the gradual retreat of the sea. The great plains of the Mississippi,
Oronoc, Maranon and Parana were also formed or drained of their swamps and
morasses.
It is at the end of this epocha, equal to the antecedent antidiluvian
period, that the real or certain history of the Americans begins with many
details and dates; both in the north and south. It was then that the
empires of the Toltecas, Utatlans, Mexicans, Apalachis, Mayapans, Incas
&c. were established on the ruins of many anterior states. We obtain by
the annals preserved or recovered of many such nations, a tolerable view
of this part of their history, and even an insight into earlier times,
when similar revolutions must have happened. If many states or nations
rose and fell in this hemisphere, unknown to the other: it was a common
fate with others in Africa, Polynesia and even in Asia. But we may hope to
rescue their names if not their deeds, from total oblivion, by seeking
their monuments, and the fragments of human tribes they left to mourn
their fate.
In this period some American nations rose to a degree of splendor and
civilization, with knowledge of arts and sciences, little inferior to
Greeks and Romans; and superior to the European nations of the middle
ages, even down to 1492: quite equal at least to that of the Egyptians and
Hindus. The American graphic systems of Apalacha, Anahuac, Maya, Otolum,
Peru; although peculiar, were quite sufficient to transmit knowledge in
books, schools and inscriptions. This high civilization was not merely
confined to Mexico and Peru, as often erroneously supposed; but was
scattered from the Apalachis and Nachez of Florida to the Chilians south
of Peru, filling the whole intermediate space.
Although war and slavery prevailed in many parts, they were modified by
the usage of adoption for individuals and whole tribes, mutual alliances,
confederacies &c.: while slavery was changed into a feodal vassalage. The
feodal system and the castes prevailed in all civilized nations of
America, as in India and Asia from earliest time.