time, may appear by the horrible Destruction that was made for several
Ages together in _Persia_ and _Media_; for although the _Persians_
became Masters again of the Realm, Conquer’d by _Alexander_ the Great,
whilst _Alexander_’s Successors invaded one another, yet they were
continually in War, either against the _Romans_, or else the _Indians_,
and other Eastern People; nay, the _Saracens_ wrested the Scepter out of
their hand, though but for a small time; for soon after, breaking out
into Factions amongst themselves, _Muchumet Subictigenes_, _Imbrael_’s
Son, establish’d his Throne on their Ruines, and incourag’d by such
success, Arm’d himself against the _Indians_, and made use of the
_Turks_ assistance, with which he subdu’d the _Babylonian Arabians_:
After which, the _Turks_, not without great slaughter see the _Persian_
Crown on their Head, which, immediately totter’d by bloudy Commotions;
for _Tangrolipix_ being King of _Persia_, clashing with his Brother
_Cutlumuses_, made _Persia_ swim in the Blood of a Civil-War, till at
last _Zengis Chan_ brought from _Tartary_ so great an Army, _Anno 1200._
that none durst stay to make opposition; for the _Turks_ forsook
_Persia_ after a Conquest of six Ages, and made their own way for new
Quarters into _Carmania_, _Phrygia_, and _Bithynia_, whence they made
such incursions on the _Greek_ Empire, that at last they became sole
Masters thereof. Who cannot but easily judge by this, how little
opportunity the ten Tribes had, to be assembled together from remote
Countreys, and to go long Journeys through untrack’d ways, and full of
Enemies, to travel to _America_?
[Sidenote: _Mora_’s opinion concerning the _Americans_ Extract.]
_Immanuel de Moraes_, who had gotten peculiar knowledge of the
_Americans_ by his long Conversation with them, judgeth that they are
not deriv’d from one People, but from the _Carthaginians_ and _Jews_,
and that at several times, and places, they Landed in this New World;
for the _Carthaginians_ Sailing thither, found the Soyl so fertile, that
many forsook their Native Countrey to dwell there: Whereupon, it was
forbidden upon pain of Death, to send no more thither, lest if
_Carthage_ should be invaded by a foraign Enemy, it should want People
for a Home-defence: From this occasion it happen’d, that those that were
already Transported, became rude, and of a Salvage Disposition, and
spreading their Families, planted the desolate Countreys in a ranging
manner, without acknowledging any Supreme Head or Governor.
Thus being scatter’d up and down, every one invented to himself a new
Language, which should neither agree with the _Carthaginians_, or any
other: But this Opinion is before at large contradicted.
[Sidenote: Customs and Constitutions of the _Brasilians_ are several.]
Moreover, _Moraes_ endeavors to shew, that the _Brasilians_ are of a
_Hebrew_ Extract, because that according to the example of the _Jews_,
they might not Marry, but in their own Tribes; they also call their
Unkles, Fathers, and their Aunts, Mothers; both mourn for the Dead a
Moneth together, and wear long Garments down to their Ankles. But these
Arguments seem to us of small consequence, for indeed the _Brasilians_
differ in their Marriages from the _Jews_, for they not onely Marry in
their own Tribes, but frequently commix with their Sisters, and
Daughters, or other their nearest Relations. Moreover, the _Jews_ call’d
them Fathers, from whose Loyns they sprang many Ages before, as well as
their Unkles, which the _Americans_ do not.
The Mourning for the Dead hath been an old Custom, and is not observ’d
by many People, but the time of a Moneth was not setled amongst them,
but was observ’d after a more unusual manner, seventy days, as in the
Fields of _Moab_ for _Moses_, and elsewhere for the Patriarch _Jacob_.
Lastly, all people know, that the _Romans_ and _Persians_ girt
themselves about with long Clothes. Besides, the _Jews_ were strictly
bound to observe Circumcision, without which they were not accounted
_Jews_, which the _Brasilians_ use not, as neither their Language or
Letters. How is it possible, that in _America_ they should at once have
forgotten their Extract, Laws, Circumcision, Language, and other
Ceremonies, when the rest of them observ’d nothing more strictly in all
parts of the Earth?
[Sidenote: _Grotius_ is of opinion that the _Americans_ belong’d to
_Norway_.]
The Learned _Hugo Grotius_, in his Enquiry after the original of the
_Americans_, brings them with many Circumstances to belong to _Panama_,
situate opposite to the Northern Parts of _Norway_, because something of
their Languages agrees, and the Way thither easie and nearest to be
found: for first they travell’d from _Norway_ to _Ysland_, over which
the _Norwegians_ Rul’d above a thousand years since; so from _Ysland_
through _Friezland_ to _Groenland_, and from thence to _Estotiland_,
being a part of the Main Continent of _America_.
[Sidenote: This Opinion is largely contradicted.]
From _Friezland_ some Fishers went thither (as he says) two Centuries
before the _Spaniards_ touch’d that Shore; which _John de Laet_
contradicts. And indeed what Reasons can be given, Why the _Americans_
of the _Straights_, between _Panama_ and _Nombre de Dios_, lying
Northerly, should have another original than those that live to the
South, seeing the same _Straights_ are neither divided by Mountains nor
Rivers; and the _Spaniards_ found no alteration in the Customs and
Languages betwixt them that liv’d above or below these _Straights_. And
who will believe that _Norway_, which was but indifferently peopled,
could afford such numerous Colonies as could plant the Northern
_America_, which far exceeds the South, and chiefly, when the great
Islands that lie near the East and West, are added to it? Moreover it is
certain, (if the Yslander _Angrim Jonas_ is to be credited) that some
Families fled out of _Norway_ from their enraged King to _Ysland_ in the
Year 874. which at that time was but meanly inhabited.
[Sidenote: _Isaac Pontanus de Reb. Danicis._]
Forty years before, _Lewis_ the Just put the _Yslanders_ under the
protection of Pope _Gregory_ the fourth, who gave the Government of the
_Ysland_ Church to _Ansgar_ Archbishop of _Hamburgh_. But how comes it
that there is not the least spark of _Christianity_ found amongst the
Northern _Americans_, if they are deriv’d from the _Ysland Christians_?
and why did the _Yslanders_ remove to colder Countreys than _Groenland_
and _Friezland_, or their own native Soil, and for the most part not
inhabited?
Concerning _Groenland_ and _Friezland_, it is known by our _English_
Navigators, that they are joyn’d together, and both to the Northern
_America_; but not without vast Bays and Inlets, which betwixt
_Groenland_ and _America_ are obstructed with floating Castles of Ice;
so that the Passage is very dangerous. And full as troublesom, if not
altogether impossible, would the Journey be by Land, because the Earth
lies so thick cover’d with Ice and Snow, especially the Valleys, that no
Traveller is able to get through.
[Sidenote: The Voyage of two _Zeno_’s.]
[Sidenote: _Relatio Marc. Zenonis._]
Moreover, that which _Grotius_ says farther of the Fishers which first
discover’d _Estotiland_, is grounded on the Relation of the _Venetian_
Knights, _Nicholas_ and _Marcus Zeno_, two Brothers. _Anno 1380._
_Nicholas Zeno_ suffer’d Shipwrack on the _Friezland_ Coast; _Marcus_
inform’d thereof, steer’d his Course thither; fourteen years they spent
before they came to _Estotiland_: at last they return’d again to
_Friezland_, where _Nicholas_ died: But _Marcus_ returning home
publish’d his Journal, wherein he relates, That _Estotiland_ is above a
thousand Leagues distant from _Friezland_, and was discover’d by
_Friezland_ Fisher-men that were driven thither by Storm. But he hath
set down many things that have little resemblance of truth, according to
what is since found by credible Navigators; and therefore we cannot
depend on _Zeno_’s Discovery.
[Sidenote: The _American_ Tongue is nothing like the _Norwegian_.]
_John de Laet_ accounts it a great mistake in _Grotius_, that as a
testimony of the _Americans_ original out of _Norway_, he compares their
Languages. He reckons up some Places to be Northward of _Panama_, which
end their words with the syllable _Lan_ instead of _Land_, because the
_Spaniards_ have left out the Letter D at the end thereof. It is
certain, that in the Northern _America_ lie _Cimatlan_, _Coatlan_,
_Guescolan_, _Artlan_, _Quaxutatlan_, _Icatlan_, _Tapatlan_,
_Cinacatlan_, _Tenuchitlan_, _Comitlan_, _Metzitlan_, _Guatitlan_,
_Necotitlan_, _Curcatatlan_. Besides, that most of these Names are not
of Countreys, but of Towns and Villages, and therefore no ways fitting
to have the termination of _Land_: and it is well known that many
_American_ words end with _Lan_, which signifie nothing less than Land:
for the _Mexicans_ say _Puertatitlan_, which signifies _At the Gate
below_; _Ochachitlantzitlan_, _Yet lower_; _Tenoxtitlan_, (this City is
also call’d from her Founder _Mexis_, _Mexico_) that is, _Rests on a
Rock_. Moreover, it may not without reason seem strange to any, that the
Northern _Americans_ have remembred but three Cities out of all the
_Teutonick_ Tongue, _viz._ _Lan_ in stead _Land_.
[Sidenote: _Groenland_ when discovered.]
[Sidenote: _Serm. 3. Antiq. Danic._]
Concerning _Groenland_, through which the _Norwegians_ are thought to
have travell’d to _America_, _Lysander_ witnesseth, That it was
accidentally discover’d by one _Eric Rauder_, _Anno 987_, and planted
thirteen years after.
_Olaus_, King of _Norway_, plac’d two Bishops over the new Inhabitants,
as Substitutes to the Archbishop of _Dronthen_. For four Ages they
Sail’d frequently to _Groenland_; but since their King was impoverish’d
by War, they left off that Trade.
We find not in any Author, that the _Norwegians_ which liv’d along the
Sea-shore, ever went to seek a Way over the inaccessible Snowy Mountains
of _Groenland_, to this our _New World_.
Besides, _Grotius_ stands for the _Norwegians_ as Planters, upon
testimony of the _Mexicans_ themselves, who told the _Spaniards_, That
their Ancestors which planted there came from the _North_, first setling
themselves on _Estotiland_, where to this day there are not improbable
proofs by several remarks, that they were a _Norwegian_ Colony.
[Sidenote: The opinion concerning the City _Norumbega_ in _America_.]
In the _American_ City _Norumbega_, live a People that speak the same
Language, and observe the same Customs with the _Mexicans_.
In this by-Corner are found also some _Alavards_, or _Longobards_, or
_Lombards_, as they say. Now the _Spaniards_ call that _New Mexico_
because last discover’d, though indeed the old, cramm’d with People
eight hundred years since: for the _Mexicans_ of _New Mexico_ do not lie
so far Northerly, as to the North-west: for this _Mexico_ lies in sight
of _California_, which is believ’d to border on _Tartary_, or at least
separated from it by a narrow Channel. But _Norumbega_ (if ever such a
Place was) must, according to the _West-Indian_ Records, have been
situate where a part of _New France_ lies, now planted by the _English_:
between which and _New Mexico_ lies an almost unmeasurable vast Tract of
Land. Mean while here is not the least sign of this City _Norumbega_ to
be found: neither do the Inhabitants dwell in Cities, but live in Tents,
or moveable Villages, which change their Names as oft as their
Governors. Moreover, the _Norwegians_ could not get to this _Norumbega_
by Land through _Ysland_ and _Groenland_ to _Estotiland_, because of the
vast Bays, and great _Midland-Sea_, discover’d by the _English_ in their
North-western Discoveries; so that leaving _Estotiland_, it was
altogether impossible for them to come to _Norumbega_.
[Sidenote: _Chichimecen._]
Hereto may be added what the _Mexicans_ say of themselves, who
acknowledge, That travelling from the _North_, they did not find an
un-inhabited Countrey before them, but were forc’d to make their Way by
a long and bloody War with the _Chichimecen_, a salvage People, that
knew neither Laws or Religion.
The People also dwelling opposite to _California_, differ from the
Customs of the _Mexicans_, being divided into several People of contrary
Constitutions, and as different Languages.
[Sidenote: Customs and Constitutions of the _Mexicans_.]
_Grotius_ scrues up his Arguments from the likeness of the _American_
Speech and Customs with the _Norwegian_: for (says he) there is little
difference between _Pagod_ and _by-God_, or _like God_; _Guaira_ and
_Waeijer_, that is, _A Fan_; _Ilama_ and _Lam_, in _English_, _Lamb_;
_Peko_ and _Beke_, a _Brook_ or _Rivulet_. Both Customs and
Constitutions have also great resemblance. The _Mexicans_ relate, that
their Predecessors onely follow’d Hunting; that they divided and
reckon’d the Time, not by Days, but by Nights, and wash’d their Children
as soon as they were born in cold Water.
[Illustration]
They are so much inclin’d to Gaming, that they venture their Liberty at
it. Every one is satisfi’d with one Wife, except some of the Nobility,
which oftentimes have more. They throw up high Banks in several places
to damm out the Sea; believe the Immortality of the Soul; every one eats
at a peculiar Table; most of them go naked, onely cover their _Pudenda_
with a Cloth; some Sacrifice and eat Mans-flesh: all which, according to
_Tacitus_, _Pliny_, _Lucan_, and other _Roman_ Writers, was observ’d by
the antient _Germans_; from whom those that inhabit between the
_Norwegian_ Mountains were extracted.
These Allegations, to make the _Norwegians_ to be the Parents of the
Northern _Americans_, _John de Laet_ thus contradicts: “It no ways
follows that one People take original from the other, because here and
there are several words found, that have the same signification and
found in divers Countreys; much less when they must either add, change,
or diminish several Letters. Moreover, there is no small mistake in the
compar’d words: for _Pagod_ is not us’d all over _America_; the
_East-Indians_ about the River _Indus_, call their Idol-Temples _Pagod_,
or _Pagode_, the word _Guaira_ is no where us’d in _America_, but by the
_Peruvians_, and with them not signifying a _Fan_, but a little _Oven_;
neither is _Ilama_ a _Lamb_, (for before the coming of the _Spaniards_
thither, neither Sheep nor Lambs were ever seen in _Peru_) but a
Wool-bearing Beast, thus describ’d by _Joseph de Acosta_:
[Sidenote: A description of the strange Beast _Ilama_ in _Peru_.]
“_Ilama_ (says he) a four-footed Creature, furnishes its Master with
Meat and Clothing, and supplies the office of a Beast for Burthens, and
at no charge for Hay nor Provender, well satisfi’d with what he finds in
the Ways or Mountains. But the _Ilama_’s are of two sorts, either
woolly, or shorthair’d: the first go by the Name _Pacos_, the other
_Moromoro_, being not much less than a Calf, with a long Neck like a
Camel, but of several colours; for some are white, some black, and
others speckled, having an odd Look, especially when they are ty’d, and
stand still without any motion, staring with goggle-eyes on their
Owners: Sometimes in a moody humor, upon a sudden taking a freak, they
run up to the top of almost inaccessible Mountains, where both the
frantick Beast and his Burthen are lost. The _Pacos_ sometimes likewise
takes sudden Pets, and fustian Fits, often doing the forward
_Supersalt_, tumbling over and over with their Goods, and will not be
rais’d, their moodiness continuing, with beating, nay though they cut
them to pieces: but the best way is to sit down by them, and wait some
hours till their humor being spent they rise again of their own accords.
These Beasts are much inclin’d to a Disease call’d _Carashe_ or the
_Mange_, of which they generally die: and because the Disease is very
catching, they straight bury the infected alive, so the better to
preserve the rest.”
_Grotius_ also mistakes, when he compares the _Mexican Peke_ with the
_Dutch Beke_; for though many _Mexican_ Places, Mountains, and Rivers,
terminate in _Peke_, yet it signifies not a _Brook_ or _Rivulet_, for
that they call _Atlauhtli_.
[Sidenote: _De Orig. Gentium Americ._]
_John de Laet_ tells also, That with great diligence he found a
_Mexican_ Dictionary, Printed by the _Spaniards_ in _Mexico_, to find if
there were any words in it which agreed with any of those _European_
Languages that he understood, but found not one.
It is the same case with the Customs and Constitutions between the
_Norwegians_ and Northern _Americans_: for what concerns Hunting, how
many People have formerly liv’d by it? The antient _Germans_, and to
this day the _Tartars_ make it their whole business, excelling in that
Art all other Nations. Besides, that the more serious sort of the
_Mexicans_ many Ages since scorn’d to derive themselves from a Hunting
Ancestry, but affirm that they found the _Chichimecen_ in those
Countreys, who were great _Venators_.
[Sidenote: Customs of the _Americans._]
[Sidenote: Their Clothing.]
The accounting of Time by the Nights, extracted from the _Hebrews_, is
observ’d by divers Eastern People: and although the _Germans_ dipt and
wash’d their children in cold Rivers, or Brooks, so soon as they were
born, yet the _Mexicans_ never did it, but the Mother lays the Child on
the fourth day after its Birth, in an open place of the House, in the
middle whereof stands a Pot full of Water cover’d with Broom, in which
they wash the Infant. Neither are the _Americans_ so much addicted to
the Vice of Gaming as other Nations, so that _Grotius_ taxeth them too
severely as to that point: as on the contrary, he too much clears them
of Polygamy, whereas the _Mexicans_ Marry as many Wives as they please,
or are able to maintain. Father _Martyn Perez_ relates the same of the
_Cinaloans_, and other _Americans_; as also _Quarterius_ of the Natives
in _Nova Francia_, which lie nearest to _Norway_. And what need the
_Americans_ have the _Germans_ their Teachers, to make Dams and Banks
against Floods, since Nature and Necessity it self instructs it? and
where are any People so ignorant, as to ascribe the same event to Men
and Beasts after death? ’Tis true, their manner of eating in _America_
is several, because the People do not much converse together: but they
did not go naked; for the _Spaniards_ found them not onely neatly
Habited, but had a proper Name for every thing they wore. The
_Virginians_ us’d long Shirts; the _Floridans_ Skins of wild Beasts; and
towards the North they cover’d themselves from Head to Foot in hairy and
undress’d Hydes. The sacrificing of Men was in former Ages spreading far
and near over the World, and how far it was practis’d here, hath been
already declar’d at large. Lastly, all the _Americans_ are not guilty of
eating of Man’s-flesh, but that salvageness is confin’d to the Southern
_America_.
Thus much we have said, to prove that the _Norwegians_ had no hand in
planting the Northern _America_, we shall now proceed to enquire who
planted the Southern Parts, from the _Straights_ between _Panama_ and
_Nombre de Dios_, to the _Straights_ of _Magellan_.
The _Peruvians_, possessing a large Tract of Land along the Coast of the
_South-Sea_, _Grotius_ would thus derive from _China_:
[Sidenote: Relation of _Mancocapacus_.]
“The _Peruvians_, being of a subtile Wit, and quick of Apprehension,
argue sufficiently that they are not extracted from the more Northern
_Americans_, but rather from the _Chineses_, which the several Wrecks of
_Chinese_ Ships found on these Coasts sufficiently evidence: and no
wonder, if curiosity or accident brought the _Chineses_ expert
Navigators to this Countrey, separated onely by one Sea from them. To
this we may add their Rites of Religion; for both worship the Sun, and
call their King the Son of the Sun; they write no Letters but make
Characters downwards. _Mancocapacus_ was a _Chinese_ of strange Policy;
who being inform’d that his Countrey-men inhabited fruitful Countreys on
the other side of the _South-Sea_, but without Laws or Government,
Sail’d over thither, and gather’d the scatter’d Multitudes in a Body,
and establish’d an hereditary Kingdom after the _Chinese_ manner, to him
and his Successors.”
[Sidenote: The _Americans_ are not extracted from _China_.]
To which _John de Laet_ answers thus: “Though the _Peruvians_ exceed the
other _Americans_ in Policy, and at the arrival of the _Spaniards_ liv’d
in a handsom Order of Government, yet they can no ways be compar’d to
the sharp-witted, and noble-spirited _Chineses_; nay, there are in no
Place of _Peru_ found such Artificers as those of _China_, that bear the
praise of all the World; no where such manner of Buildings or Cities,
nor the least likeness of the _Chinese_ Curiosities. As concerning the
Wrecks found in _Peru_, I find no credible Author that gives an account
thereof: for certainly the _Chineses_ could much easier, and a nearer
way have come through the _Atlantick Sea_ to the Coasts of _America_,
lying to the East of _Peru_, than steer along the vast, and much greater
_South Sea_, and endure the horrible Storms and vast Waves, which the
_European_ Ships are scarce able to endure, much less the _Chinese_
Vessels, which are not so good. The _Spaniards_ which Sail yearly from
_Acupulco_ to the _Philippines_ are sensible of the great danger which
they endure, chiefly by the great gusts of Wind near _California_.
Besides, the _Peruvians_ before the arrival of the _Spaniards_, were
utterly ignorant of great Ships, and the use of Sails. How could they at
once have forgotten that Art, which they brought with them thither,
Moreover, it is easier to Sail from _Peru_ to _China_, than from _China_
to _Peru_, because the Winds under the Equinoctial Line commonly blow
Easterly. And it is the greater wonder, that the _Chinese_ Jonks
accidentally by Storm should be driven to _Peru_, because they were
never stor’d with Provisions but for a short Voyage, whereas this ask’d
nine Moneths. But if any one will suppose, that they purposely directed
their Course thither, how came the _Chineses_ to Sail just to _Peru_,
and not to _New Spain_, which is much closer to _China_? why were there
no Merchandises of the _Chineses_ found in _Peru_, since they went
thither for Trade? how came they to neglect that Navigation they had
once found? Nor is their Sun-worship (which was formerly practis’d in
most Parts of the World) of any validity to derive them from _China_?
But the contrary is most apparent, for the _Peruvians_ worship for their
chief God, _Viracocha_, that is, _God Almighty_, or _The Creator of all
things_.
“The _Chineses_, if Confutius an eye-witness may be credited, are
divided into three Sects of Religion: The first follow the Learn’d
_Trigantius_, and acknowledge a King of the Heavens, which must onely be
serv’d as the _Chineses_ sole Governor; to which purpose, two Temples
are built in the Royal Cities _Nankin_ and _Pekin_, one Consecrate to
Heaven, and the other to the Earth. The second Sect hath the name of
_Sciequia_, and serve the Idol _Omyto_. The third nam’d _Lanzu_, imploy
themselves in Magick and Exorcisms, Conjuring up, and laying
Evil-Spirits, whose horrid representations, when they have stuck upon
the Walls, they make an artificial and dreadful noise, as if Hell were
broke loose, and the House full of Devils; sometimes also force the
Evil-Spirits to enter into Images, from whence they receive no
impertinent answers to their questions: Therefore, who will compare this
Superstition of the _Peruvians_ worshipping of the Sun, to the _Chinese_
Religion, which do no such things?
[Sidenote: Embassy to the _Cham_, l. 2. c. 2.]