[Sidenote: Original of the _American_ Kings, and their Custom.]
The _Chineses_, _East-Indians_, _Japanners_, and other People of _Asia_
and _Africa_, have also some knowledge of a very ancient Flood; but
hood-wink’t under many idle Fancies, not unlike that which the
_Americans_ relate, from whom several Learned Persons find no obscure
Confessions of the Deluge, which thus mystically they have wrapp’d up,
That one _Viracocha_ came out of the great Lake _Titicaca_, and setled
his Residence upon _Tiaguanaco_, where yet remain the Ruines of ancient
Walls, built after a wonderful manner: At length removing from
_Tiaguanaco_ to _Cusco_, he began to multiply the Generation of Mankind.
They shew in the foremention’d Lake a small Island, under which, the
_Americans_ say, the Sun sav’d himself from the Flood; wherefore in
ancient Times they superstitiously observ’d that place, heightning their
Bloody Sacrifices with Humane Slaughter. Others relate, That six Persons
leap’d through a Hole out of a Window, from whence all Men were since
Extracted; and from that new Increase, the place (after the Inhabitants
of the Old World were all drown’d) got the Denomination of _Pacari
Tampo_; and therefore they hold the _Tampo_’s to be the most ancient
Families: From hence _Mangocapam_ deriv’d, being the Primogenitor of the
_Ynca_’s or Kings; from whom sprung two Generations, _Hanon Cuzco_, and
_Urim Cuzco_. They tell us also, That their _Ynca_’s, when they make War
upon any People, say that the occasion, as they pretend, was, because
all Territories are Tributary to them justly, from whom they were
deriv’d and restor’d, being the first Planters of the New World; and
withal, That the true Religion was declar’d to them from Heaven.
[Sidenote: _Americans_ Flood is taken out of the Scripture.]
This Relation, though mix’d with Fables, shews (but very darkly) that
they have some knowledge of the Flood: For who are those six else that
leap’d out of a Window to replenish the Generations of Mankind, but
_Shem_, _Ham_, and _Japhet_, with their Wives?
[Sidenote: _Peruvians_ Opinion.]
[Sidenote: And also the _Mexicans_, of their Original.]
[Sidenote: Lib. 1. cap. 7.]
The _Americans_ can give but a little better Account of their first
Original; and indeed it is no wonder, because for want of Books they can
relate nothing certain, but only what they have Registred in their usual
_Quipocamagos_, which is not above four hundred years old. _Acosta_
asking what Original they judg’d they were of, and from what Countrey
and People deriv’d? receiv’d no other Answer, but that _America_ only
was their native Countrey, and that they were deriv’d from no other
elsewhere. But though the _Peruvians_ are of this Opinion, yet the
_Mexicans_ are of another mind, giving the _Spaniards_ a far better
Account when first they came thither, wherein we must a little deviate,
_viz._ How they were remov’d from some other place, as _Robert Comtæus_
relates, who with many Learned and seemingly true Arguments affirms,
That the Original of the _Americans_ must be sought for either among the
_Phenicians_, _Sydonians_, _Tyrians_, or _Carthaginians_, being indeed
all one People. _Herodotus_ saith thus of the _Phenicians_, “They liv’d
formerly, according to their own Relation, along the Shore of the
_Red-Sea_; from whence removing, they planted the Sea-Coast of the
_Syrians_.” _Festus Avienus_ the _Latin_ Poet agrees with this Opinion,
where he saith,
_On the_ Phenicians _Coasts the Ocean beats_,
_Who through the_ Red-Sea _Sailing, chang’d their Seats.
They were the first that ventur’d through the Seas,
And freighted Ships with richer Merchandize:
Fair or foul Weather, They without controule!
Sought Foreign Trade, directed by the Pole_.
[Sidenote: Original and Habitations of the _Phenicians_, of whom,
according to several Learned, the _Americans_ are extracted.]
_Aristotle_ from a _Greek_ Word calls them _Phenicians_, from their
being red or bloody with the Slaughter of all Strangers that Landed on
their Coast; but rather, and so indeed they are call’d _Phenicians_, or
_Erythreans_, from _Esau_, or _Edom_, from whom they are deriv’d; for
these two Words, or Denominations, signifie in _Greek, Red_; the two
last, the like in _Hebrew_. _Phenix_ himself first planted all the
Countrey lying between the River _Eleutherus_, and the _Egyptian_ City
_Pelusium_; and afterwards _Damiata_, wash’d by the _Mediterrane_: But
since, these Boundaries are alter’d, on the North, by _Judea_; Westward,
by the _Mediterrane_; Southerly, by _Egypt_; and towards the East, by
the Desart _Arabia_.
The chiefest Cities are _Ptolemais_, otherwise call’d _Acon_, _Sidon_,
_Arad_, _Great Cana_, _Sarepta_, _Biblis_, _Bothris_, _Berithus_, and
their Princess _Tyre_, formerly scituate in an Isle, but since joyn’d to
the Main-Land by _Alexander the Great_.
[Sidenote: _Herodot._ lib. 1 .]
[Sidenote: _Salust_ in _Igurtha_.]
[Sidenote: Wonderful Power of the _Phenicians_.]
None can disown, but that the _Phenicians_ have every where been
Admirals of the Sea; so that they were formidable to the greatest
Princes. When the _Persian_ King _Cambyses_ came with a vast Army
against the _Carthaginians_, he was forc’d to give over his Design,
because the _Phenicians_ refus’d to help him with their Fleet, being
allied to, and the City founded by them: But they not only built
_Carthage_, which strove with _Rome_ to be the Empress of the World, but
also the famous Cities _Leptis_, _Utica_, _Hippo_, and _Adrumetum_ in
_Africa_, with _Cadiz_ and _Tartessus_ in _Spain_; nay, they sent
Plantations of People into the Heart of _Iberia_ and _Lybia_. It will
not be amiss to add _Q. Curtius_ his Relation, who tells us, “Where-ever
the _Phenicians_ came with their Fleets, Landing their Men, they subdu’d
whole Countreys, and by that means spread their Colonies over the known
World; _Carthage_ in _Africa_, _Thebes_ in _Boetia_, and _Cadiz_ near
the _Western Ocean_.” _Aristotle_ relates, “That they made such rich
Returns of their Merchandize, and chiefly of their Oyl, in _Spain_, that
their Anchors, Pins, and all Iron Materials belonging to a Ship, in
stead of that Metal, were Silver.”
[Sidenote: Testimonies that the _Americans_ are deriv’d from the
_Phenicians_.]
[Sidenote: First Testimony.]
[Sidenote: Is contradicted.]
[Sidenote: _Lib. 3. Geogr._]
[Sidenote: _Flemmish Islands._]
[Sidenote: _Lib. 17._]
But to return to our Discourse, and disprove the former Testimony, That
the _Phenicians_ found _America_. The formention’d _Comtæus_ saith thus;
“None can justly doubt, but that since the _Phenicians_ took the Command
of the Sea from the _Rhodians_, they more and more increas’d their
Fleets, and growing experter in Navigation, passing the _Gibraltar_
Northward, became Masters of _Cadiz_, and still prepar’d new Fleets,
which searching beyond _Atlas_ Southward, discover’d the Coasts of
_Africa_, and the adjacent Isles, driving a great Trade to the
_Canaries_, and to those which lay scatter’d along _Cape de Verd_,
formerly call’d the _Gorgades_. This way of Trade also was not unknown
to the _Greeks_, _Iberians_, and other People; but after the
_Phenicians_ assum’d it wholly to themselves, without any respect or
difference of Countreys, they sunk all whomsoever they could catch.”
_Curtius_ further adds, saying, “I believe that the _Phenicians_,
sailing into the Main Ocean, have discover’d unknown Countreys.” And
which are those? Not the _Gorgades_, or _Canary Isles_; for those were
sufficiently known before; but a Main Land, far beyond. But though the
_Phenicians_ were most expert, yet not skilful enough to make out such
Discoveries. They indeed were the first that before any other sail’d out
of the Mid-land Sea; nay, they ventur’d a good way into the main Ocean,
beyond the _Straights of Gibraltar_, or the _Herculean Pillars_: But how
far? Not to the _Gorgades_, above half way betwixt _Spain_ and
_America_; but to the _Cassiterides_, or _Flemish Islands_, which to the
number of nine lie in sight of _Spain_. _Strabo_ affirms this Truth,
saying, “The _Cassiterides_ are ten, lying in order close by one
another: One remains uninhabited; on the rest live a swarthy People.”
This way the _Phenicians_ sail’d first, when they were in quest for
Trade, from _Cadiz_. And though he reckons ten, there are indeed but
nine, _viz._ _St. Michael_, _St. Mary_, _St. George_, _Tercera_, _de
Pico_, or _Tenariff_, so call’d from the Mountain which vomits Fire,
_Fayal_, _Las Flores_, _Del Cuervo_, and _Gratiosa_. Moreover, the same
_Strabo_ relates, “That the _Carthaginians_ did not throw over-board the
Traders on the remote _Gorgades_, but those especially that came from
_Sardinia_ or _Cadiz_.”
[Sidenote: _Salt-Islands_ how long known.]
[Sidenote: _Joan. Mariana de Reb. Hispan._ lib. 1. cap. 20.]
[Sidenote: Very remarkable Voyage of _Hanno_ the _Carthaginian_, along
the Coast of _Africa_ to the _Salt-Islands_.]
[Sidenote: Strange Vision.]
[Sidenote: The Ancients believ’d Baboons to be Men.]
Mean while, we cannot deny, but that the _Gorgades_ that lye before
_Cape de Verd_ were frequented by the _Carthaginians_, long before the
Birth of our Savior; but with so much admiration, that _Hanno_ their
Captain in that Expedition was listed amongst the number of their
Heroes, hapning thus: The _Carthaginians_ sailing for _Cadiz_, to assist
the _Phenicians_ against the _Spaniards_, made that the Seat of War,
which soon drew on a greater Design; for _Hamilco_ and _Hanno_ being
impowr’d by the Senate at _Carthage_, manag’d the War in _Spain_. Both
of them were ambitious to discover new Countreys. _Hamilco_ sail’d along
the Coast of _Spain_ and _Gaule_, reaching to _Batavia_. _Hanno_ steer’d
Southerly, carrying thirty thousand Men of all Trades in his Fleet,
purposing to build a new City in some place or other, and got beyond the
Promontory _Ampelusium_, now call’d _Cabo Spatil_; the River _Ziloa_,
which washeth the City _Arzilla_; and the Stream _Lix_, now _Lusso_,
where the Poets place the Gardens of the _Hesperides_, in the custody of
a waking Dragon: From thence proceeding on his Voyage, he came to an
Anchor in the Mouth of the River _Subur_, at this day call’d _Subu_; and
afterwards before the City _Sala_, now call’d _Salle_, at that time made
very dangerous by the voracious Beasts in the neighboring Woods: At last
the Fleet reach’d the Foot of the lesser _Atlas_, which ends at the
Point _Chaunaria_, by the Modern Navigators call’d _Cabo Non_, because
it was judg’d, that none could scape with Life, that durst adventure to
steer beyond _Chaunaria_; yet _Hanno_ sail’d between _Palma_, one of the
_Canary-Islands_, and the Promontory _Bojadoris_, towards the pointed
Coast call’d then _Cornu Hesperium_, but now _Cape Verd_, in the River
_Asama_, by _Castaldus_ call’d _Omirabi_: Here he found horrible
Croccodiles, and _Hippopotami_ or Sea-Horses. _Atsama_ is held to flow
from the same Fountain whence the _Nyle_ hath its Original. In this
Latitude _Hanno_ descried those Islands which he call’d _Gorgones_ (from
the three deform’d Sisters _Medusa_, _Sthenio_, and _Euryale_, whose
Heads were Periwig’d with curl’d Serpents) because they found as
illfavor’d Women on these Islands, which at this day the _Hollanders_
call the _Salt-Islands_; amongst which, the chiefest is _St. Jago_, a
Colony of _The Portuguese_; but the Mountains opposite to the
_Gorgones_, on the main Coast of _Africa_, rising aloft with spiring
tops near the River _Masitholus_, _Hanno_ call’d the _Chariots of the
Gods_, now nam’d _Sierra Liona_, lying in eight Degrees Northern
Latitude. When _Hanno_ and his Armado, either provok’d by an undaunted
Courage, or covetous of fame, if they proceeded in their so wonderful
Adventure, went forward, where they reported, that they saw Rivers of
Fire falling into the Ocean, the Countrey all about burning, and the
tops of the Mountains dazleing their Eyes with continual Flashes of
Lightning, intermix’d with terrible Thunder; adding further, That the
Natives all the Summer shelter’d themselves from the excessive Heat, in
Caves under Ground; and coming forth in the night, run abroad with
lighted Torches over their Ground, so gathering in their Harvest, and
Officiating all other Affairs of Husbandry: Yet _Hanno_ no ways daunted
at such strange Sights, sail’d from _Sierra Liona_ Southerly to the
_Æquinox_, where he discover’d an Island not far from the _African_
Coast, inhabited by a rough and hairy People, to take some of whom, he
us’d all possible means, yet could not; onely two Women, being
incompass’d by Soldiers, were taken, and carried aboard; but being very
salvage, and barbarously wild, could not be tamed, or brought to any
Complacency; so they kill’d them, and carried their stuff’d-up Skins to
_Carthage_, where they were a long time gaz’d upon with great
admiration.
[Sidenote: The Island _St. Thomas_.]
This Island which _Hanno_ then found, can be no other but that which we
call _St. Thomas_, and hath a very unhealthy Air for Strangers, but else
very fruitful, and abounding with Sugar-Canes; and the hairy People
which he makes mention of, were _Babeons_, or _Baboons_, which _Africa_
in this place breeds large, to the amazement of the Beholders, in great
abundance; because those deform’d Monsters, more than any other Beast
whatsoever, represent Humane shape.
[Sidenote: _Hanno_’s Return.]
[Sidenote: Is for his Voyage plac’d amongst the Gods.]
Here _Hanno_ stopp’d his Voyage, being hindred from going further for
want of Provision. Five years he spent in this Expedition, before he
Anchor’d again at _Cadiz_, from whence not long after he steer’d to his
Native Countrey _Carthage_, where he was receiv’d with no less Wonder
than State, insomuch that none before or after him ever gain’d greater
Honor, seeming to oblige his Countrey with the hopes of future Profits
from these new discover’d Regions: Nay, he receiv’d a Name, and was
plac’d amongst their Gods in the Temples, which he being ambitious of,
promoted after a strange manner, teaching several Birds to cry, _The
great God Hanno_; which when they could speak perfect, they were let fly
in the Air, where to the admiration of all People, they every where
repeated their well-taught Lesson.
This the most remarkable Voyage which hapned in the time of the
Ancients, considering they wanted several Mathematical Instruments
belonging to Navigation, and especially the use of the Compass; and also
considering the length of the Voyage to _Sierra Liona_, whither never
any durst venture before: Nay, in so many Ages after _Hanno_, the
famousest Navigators which were set out by the King of _Portugal_,
fear’d a long time to cut their Passage through the _Æquinoctial-Line_;
however in long Process of time, divers Experiments were made, which
have now so much improv’d the Art of Navigation.
[Sidenote: Testimony that _America_ was not known to the Ancients.]
_Hanno_’s Voyage was four hundred years before the Birth of our Savior;
therefore if none have been further than _Hanno_, until the time the
_Portuguese_ sail’d beyond _Cape de Bona Esperanza_, how could _America_
be discover’d by Sea? How did they steer from the _Salt-Islands_, or
_St. Thomas_, out of sight of Land, through the Main Ocean, to an
unknown World? _Hanno_ himself, who was the stoutest of all Ancient
Navigators, not only crept along the _African_ Coast, which made him
spend so much time; but not daring to cross over those wide spreading
Bays he found, left not his hold of the Shore, and measur’d and search’d
every winding Inlet and Creek: And if he found a New World, why was it
not known? The more, because his Ambition carry’d him on to get a Name
and Reputation by such Naval Discoveries. And how true the Relation of
this Expedition is, _Pliny_ tells us, saying, The Journal-Books were
then to be seen which _Hanno_ writ in that his _African_ Expedition:
Though many of the _Greeks_, and also of our Moderns, following _Hanno_,
have found several things contrary to his Observations, wherein he makes
mention of several Cities built by him, which none ever since heard of,
or any have seen, neither is there the least Marks of their Ruines to be
found.
This large Relation serves for nothing else, but to shew that they seek
in vain herein to give the Honor of the Discovery of _America_ to the
Ancients; And as little do those Testimonies signifie that are taken out
of _Diodorus Siculus_, _Pliny_, _Pomponius Mela_, and _Ælian_. It will
be worth our time to hear every one of them particularly.
[Sidenote: _Lib. 6. cap. 7._]
[Sidenote: Second Testimony, that the _Americans_ are deriv’d from the
_Phenicians_.]
First, _Diodorus_ saith, “Beyond _Lybia_, in the Ocean, lies a very
great Island, several days sailing in Circumference, having a very
fruitful Soil, and pleasant Meadows, distinguish’d by Hills, and
moistned by Navigable Rivers, unknown in Ancient Times, because it seems
to be separated from the other World, and was thus found: The
_Phenicians_ sailing along the _Lybian_ Coast, were several days and
nights toss’d with perpetual Tempests, and at last driven to the
foremention’d Island, where Anchoring, and observing the pleasant
Scituation thereof, made it known to their Magistrates.”
[Sidenote: _Is contradicted._]
But how comes this nameless Island to be _America_? What Man would take
that for an Island, which far exceeds the main Continent of _Asia_? And
have the _Phenicians_ ascrib’d the finding of this New World to any?
Whence then proceeds such great silence amongst all the Ancient Writers
of a whole World, who otherwise us’d to give Denominations to the least
remote Village, or Mountain, or River?
[Sidenote: _Lib. 5. cap. 1._ Description of _Atlas_.]
_Pliny_ speaks after the same manner, saying, “The Writers make mention,
that _Atlas_ rises out of the middle of the Sands, with a Shrubby and
Bushy top towards the Sky, on the Shore of the Ocean to which he gives
his Denomination; That it is full of Woods, and water’d by several
Fountains on that side towards _Africa_, by which means it bears all
manner of Fruit. In the Day-time none of the Inhabitants appear, all
things being in silence, as in the middle of a Desart; the Approacher is
struck with sudden amazement. And besides its excessive high Crown,
reaching above the Clouds, and neighboring, as they say, the Circle of
the Moon, appears in the Night as if it were all in a Flame, resounding
far and near with Pipes, Trumpets, and Cymbals; and the Journey up
thither, very long and dangerous.”
I cannot understand that _Pliny_ can mean _America_ by this, because
himself, in the first Division of his Fifth Book, makes his beginning
with the Description of _Africa_: And as to what further concerns the
strange Relation and danger thereof, is a little before related in
_Hanno_’s Voyage; and it is but a slight Argument to prove it _America_,
because it seems to resound with those sorts of Instruments which the
_Americans_ were observ’d to use when discover’d.
[Sidenote: _Lib. 1. cap. 4._]
[Sidenote: Strange Men.]
_Pomponius Mela_ being the third, hath no greater Arguments than the
former. “We hear (says he) that utmost People towards the West, being
the _Atlanticans_, are rather half Beasts than Men, cloven-footed,
without Heads, their Faces upon their Breasts, and naked, with one great
Foot, like Satyrs or Goblins, which range up and down, without any
Artificial Shelters or Houses.”
[Sidenote: _Lib. 3. cap. 18._]
[Sidenote: Discourse between _Midas_ and _Silenus_ concerning the
Unknown World.]
Lastly, _Ælian_ seems to say something, when he sets down the Discourse
between _Midas_ and _Silenus_, out of _Theopompus_, where _Silenus_
relates, “That _Europe_, _Asia_, and _Lybia_ are Islands; and that a
vast Countrey lyes beyond this his tripple-divided World, mighty
Populous, and abounding with all other Living Creatures, as big again as
ours, and living twice as long: That they are wondrous rich; their
Religions, Laws, and Customs, founded upon another Morality and Reason,
quite different from ours. They boast especially of two great Cities,
_Machimus_ and _Eusebes_; the Inhabitants of the first maintaining
themselves by driving altogether a Trade of War, mustering up, and
filling their numerous Regiments with several valiant Nations. The
Listed Citizens amount in their Muster-Rolls, all bred to Soldiery, to
two Millions, of whom few but scorn either dying bravely by Wounds
receiv’d With Flint-edg’d Laths, and Staves, in stead of Spears, pointed
with Stones, not knowing the use of Iron or Steel, but so over-stock’d
with Gold and Silver, that they account it a Drug of less Value than our
basest Metal. Some Years since they march’d into our World, a hundred
thousand strong, as far as the _Hyperborean_ Mountains, where being
inform’d, that all the Nations of our World, compar’d with them, liv’d
in a poor and despicable condition; as not thinking them worth their
Conquest, they return’d. But the second City _Eusebes_, deals altogether
in Peace, and its Citizens are not rapacious, but exercise Justice, so
much affecting Morality and Divine Worship, that they conquer Heaven by
their Piety and Meekness, and the Gods themselves are pleas’d to
descend, and advise with them concerning their Celestial Affairs.”
Who observes not this to be a Poetical Relation, shewing how much better
the Acquirements of Peace are, than those of War; the one conquering
only Men, the other, the Gods? Nor can more be taken out of _Ælian_’s
Discourse, but that the Ancients believ’d there was another Habitable
World to be our _Antipodes_.
[Sidenote: Inquiries whether the Constitutions of the _Phenicians_ agree
with the _Americans_.]
Thus far hath been disputed concerning the Original of the _Americans_,
whose Plantations from _Tyre_ or _Carthage_ by Sea, are found altogether
invalid: Yet we will search a little further, to see whether the People
Analogize, either in their Religion, Policy, Oeconomy, or Customs.
It is certain, that the ancient _Phenicians_ liv’d in Tents, and
sometimes exchang’d eaten-up Pastures for fresh, which the _Americans_
to this day observe; by which it might appear, that they are of a
_Phenician_ Extract. But why not as well deriv’d from _Numidia_,
_Tartary_, or the ancient Patriarchs, who all liv’d such an unsettl’d
wandering Life? Besides, the _Phenicians_ had a long time given over
Pastoral Business, for Maritime Affairs of greater consequence, not only
Merchandizing through all the World, but sending great Colonies in Ships
to new Plantations: And moreover, the _Americans_ could not so strangely
degenerate from their Ancestors, but would have built great Cities like
them; of which many were found in _Phenicia_, but none of Antiquity in
_America_.
[Sidenote: As also both their Religions.]
As to their Religion, if it agreed with the _Phenicians_, it was the
same that all the World profess’d at that time, and therefore may as
well be extracted from any other, as them: ’Tis true, we find them
inclin’d to Sorcery, and dealing with Evil Spirits, as the _Phenicians_,
in which they were not only guilty, but all other Nations at that time.
[Sidenote: The Known World formerly full of Witches.]
[Sidenote: _De Nat. Dæmon._ l. 3.]
[Sidenote: _Lucan._ lib. 6.]