_Prince Madoc._--I was much gratified on reading "T.T.'s" note,
commenting on my observations respecting the Mandan language, as he
proves the existence of Celtic words amongst the American Indians.
Regarding "T.T.'s" doubts as to the Mandans being descended from the
followers of Madoc, I confess that my opinions on the point do not
differ very widely from his own. The circumstances attending Madoc's
emigration, in the paucity of its numbers and the entire separation from
the mother country, with the character of the Indians, would almost
ensure the ultimate destruction of the settlement, or the ultimate
absorption of its remains by those who might have had friendly relations
with the Welsh. In this most favourable view, the evidences of the
presence of the Welsh seven centuries since would be few indeed at the
present day. The most striking circumstance of this nature that I met
with in Mr. Catlin's work, is a description of what he calls a
"bull-boat," from its being covered with a bull's hide, which, in
construction and form, is perfectly identical with the Welsh "_cwrygl_."
Yet, strong as this resemblance is, it will have but little weight if
unsupported by other evidence. In conclusion, I would observe, that I
never supposed Prince Madoc to be the discover of America, but that his
voyage was induced by the knowledge that other lands existed in the
great ocean (_see_ Humboldt's _Examen critique_). The emblems found in
America, and said to be crosses, are obviously the _tau_ [cross symbol],
or symbol of life, and can have no connection with Christianity.