A description of the strange BeastIlamainPeru.
“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 theIlama’s are of two sorts, either woolly, or shorthair’d:the first go by the NamePacos, the otherMoromoro, 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. ThePacossometimes likewise takes sudden Pets, and fustian Fits, often doing the forwardSupersalt, 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’dCarasheor theMange, 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.”
Grotiusalso mistakes, when he compares theMexican Pekewith theDutch Beke; for though manyMexicanPlaces, Mountains, and Rivers, terminate inPeke, yet it signifies not aBrookorRivulet, for that they callAtlauhtli.
De Orig. Gentium Americ.
John de Laettells also, That with great diligence he found aMexicanDictionary, Printed by theSpaniardsinMexico, to find if there were any words in it which agreed with any of thoseEuropeanLanguages that he understood, but found not one.
It is the same case with the Customs and Constitutions between theNorwegiansand NorthernAmericans: for what concerns Hunting, how many People have formerly liv’d by it? The antientGermans, and to this day theTartarsmake it their whole business, excelling in that Art all other Nations. Besides, that the more serious sort of theMexicansmany Ages since scorn’d to derive themselves from a Hunting Ancestry, but affirm that they found theChichimecenin those Countreys, who were greatVenators.
Customs of theAmericans.
Their Clothing.
The accounting of Time by the Nights, extracted from theHebrews, is observ’d by divers Eastern People: and although theGermansdipt and wash’d their children in cold Rivers, or Brooks, so soon as they were born, yet theMexicansnever 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 theAmericansso much addicted to the Vice of Gaming as other Nations, so thatGrotiustaxeth them too severely as to that point: as on the contrary, he too much clears them of Polygamy, whereas theMexicansMarry as many Wives as they please, or are able to maintain. FatherMartyn Perezrelates the same of theCinaloans, and otherAmericans; as alsoQuarteriusof the Natives inNova Francia, which lie nearest toNorway. And what need theAmericanshave theGermanstheir 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 inAmericais several, because the People do not much converse together: but they did not go naked; for theSpaniardsfound them not onely neatly Habited, but had a proper Name for every thing they wore. TheVirginiansus’d long Shirts; theFloridansSkins 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 nearover the World, and how far it was practis’d here, hath been already declar’d at large. Lastly, all theAmericansare not guilty of eating of Man’s-flesh, but that salvageness is confin’d to the SouthernAmerica.
Thus much we have said, to prove that theNorwegianshad no hand in planting the NorthernAmerica, we shall now proceed to enquire who planted the Southern Parts, from theStraightsbetweenPanamaandNombre de Dios, to theStraightsofMagellan.
ThePeruvians, possessing a large Tract of Land along the Coast of theSouth-Sea,Grotiuswould thus derive fromChina:
Relation ofMancocapacus.
“ThePeruvians, being of a subtile Wit, and quick of Apprehension, argue sufficiently that they are not extracted from the more NorthernAmericans, but rather from theChineses, which the several Wrecks ofChineseShips found on these Coasts sufficiently evidence: and no wonder, if curiosity or accident brought theChinesesexpert 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.Mancocapacuswas aChineseof strange Policy; who being inform’d that his Countrey-men inhabited fruitful Countreys on the other side of theSouth-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 theChinesemanner, to him and his Successors.”
TheAmericansare not extracted fromChina.
To whichJohn de Laetanswers thus: “Though thePeruviansexceed the otherAmericansin Policy, and at the arrival of theSpaniardsliv’d in a handsom Order of Government, yet they can no ways be compar’d to the sharp-witted, and noble-spiritedChineses; nay, there are in no Place ofPerufound such Artificers as those ofChina, that bear the praise of all the World; no where such manner of Buildings or Cities, nor the least likeness of theChineseCuriosities. As concerning the Wrecks found inPeru, I find no credible Author that gives an account thereof: for certainly theChinesescould much easier, and a nearer way have come through theAtlantick Seato the Coasts ofAmerica, lying to the East ofPeru, than steer along the vast, and much greaterSouth Sea, and endure the horrible Storms and vast Waves, which theEuropeanShips are scarce able to endure, much less theChineseVessels, which are not so good. TheSpaniardswhich Sail yearly fromAcupulcoto thePhilippinesare sensible of the great danger which they endure, chiefly by the great gusts of Wind nearCalifornia. Besides, thePeruviansbefore the arrival of theSpaniards, 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 fromPerutoChina, than fromChinatoPeru, because the Winds under the Equinoctial Line commonly blow Easterly. And it is the greater wonder, that theChineseJonks accidentally by Storm should be driven toPeru, 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 theChinesesto Sail just toPeru, and not toNew Spain, which is much closer toChina? why were there no Merchandises of theChinesesfound inPeru, 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) ofany validity to derive them fromChina? But the contrary is most apparent, for thePeruviansworship for their chief God,Viracocha, that is,God Almighty, orThe Creator of all things.
“TheChineses, if Confutiusan eye-witness may be credited, are divided into three Sects of Religion: The first follow the Learn’dTrigantius, and acknowledge a King of the Heavens, which must onely be serv’d as theChinesessole Governor; to which purpose, two Temples are built in the Royal CitiesNankinandPekin, one Consecrate to Heaven, and the other to the Earth. The second Sect hath the name ofSciequia, and serve the IdolOmyto. The third nam’dLanzu, 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 thePeruviansworshipping of the Sun, to theChineseReligion, which do no such things?
Embassy to theCham, l. 2. c. 2.
“ThePeruvianscall’d their King,A Lord of the Realm, and notThe Son of the Sun, as inChina: Though theMexicansotherwise worship the Sun, and in their manner of adulation, styl’dHernando Cortez, their Conqueror,Son of the Sun: As to what concerns the manner of writing, it is very well known, that theChineseswords are all Monosyllables, so that they have as many Letters as Words, which they joyn so together, that they reckon eighty thousand, but with ten thousand they are able to express themselves in most matters. These Characters are contain’d in theirHalpienor Dictionary. The antientChinesesus’d seventeen several sorts of Characters in their writing, some consisting of Serpents, that by several Wreathes and contortious Windings, signify’d several things; others, of all sorts of agrestick Tools belonging to Husbandry; some Characters of the Feathers of the BirdFum-hoar; others of Oysters and Worms, or of Roots, of Herbs, or Birds Claws, or of Turtles, or of Herbs and Birds Feathers mingled, or of Planets, and such like; but what manner of Writing or Hieroglyphick of theirs resembles those, who by their own testimony know neither Pen, Paper, Ink, nor any manner of Writing, but reckon the antiquity of time by strung Beads, which was observ’d many ages since among several Nations.”
Original of theAmericansvery obscure.
What we may believe concerning them.
TheAmericansare derived from several people.
Hitherto we have discover’d the several Opinions concerning the Original of theAmericans, or first Plantation ofAmerica, from all which, having receiv’d no clear or demonstrative satisfaction, we must open our way to a further scrutiny: But first, we must needs confess, that contradiction is not difficult; but it is something of Work, when we have beaten down a well-fortifi’d Opinion, to set up somewhat in stead thereof, to stand a permanent and undeniable truth, which will be the harder, in regard the Inhabitants of this new World have no old Chronologies concerning their Antiquities, and first settling there; yet if we cannot go so far absolutely to assert, yet some probabilities, grounded (as we suppose) upon better reasons, may give more satisfaction; for none will deny, but that the Generations of Mankind being strangely multiply’d after the Flood, they then living five times our Ages, and Wars not beginning till the known part of the Earth was over-stock’d, justling for Territories, and some thrust quite out, at last foundAmerica; which spreading it self to a vast extent, and now found almost every where well inhabited, may be guess’d,that it was not onely Planted from the first, but several times replenish’d since by various Nations; Why may not several Planters, and at several times make room for their Colonies, incroaching one upon another, either by force or compact; as theFrenchthemselves upon theGauls, theNormansupon them, theGothsamong theSpaniards, and theSaxonsamong theBrittains, and theNormansagain upon them?
Several people may easily Sail over thither, theAzoresor theCanaryIsles lye so, that they are ready (as if design’d) for Transportation toAmerica; from whenceAcostamade a Voyage in fifteen days. AlsoPlinygives us an account, that these Islands lay uninhabited in his time; yet is it well known, that afterPliny’s time, Ruins of Buildings were found there, signifying, they had been formerly Planted; and why might not those ancient Inhabitants Sail thence to the neighboringAmerica?
Marian. de Reb. Hisp.l. 1. c. 18.
Terceralying half way betweenSpainandAmerica, was frequented by Navigators before the Birth of our Savior; and it seems as easie to Sail from thence toAmerica, as from the Main Land ofSpainthither: Add this, that necessity forc’d theSpaniardsto look about them from other Countreys, for since they lost their Victorious ChampionBaucius Gapetus, they were every where beaten, being tired out by thePhenicianForces, and that oppression over, suffer’d as much under theRomanYoke: Wherefore it seems not strange, if a considerable number remov’d from thence, that they might live some where else in quiet; for which purpose they wanted no conveniencies to Rig and set forth stout and sufficient Vessels, able to live in those Seas, having had long experience from thePhenicianVoyagers, whose Fleets Sail’d daily to and again in several Expeditions, fromCadizandGibraltartowards these Western Countreys: Nay,Hannohimself their first Navigator that way, who gives an account of theGorgons, or the Isles ofCape Verd, a good part of the way toAmerica.
Englishfamous Sea-men.
Barat-anac, or,Tinland, thePhenicianname, andBrittaniatheGreekname ofBrittain.
And thoughBrittain,Ireland, and theBrittish Orcadeslay further fromAmerica, yet something may be said particularly to prove, That many Ages since, Expeditions had been made from thence to the New World; and that the Inhabitants of these our Isles, in former Ages, were peculiarly famous for their skill in Navigation; insomuch, that theCretansandPheniciansemulous of their skill, and jealous of their danger, made several Attacques and Invasions upon these Isles, which is the more probable, many remarks of thePhenicianandGreekLanguage, remaining in the denominations of the Countrey: Of which, take first this account:
Old Voyage ofMadoktoAmerica; for which seeVet. Hist. Brit.
Anno 1170.WhenOwen Guyneth, Prince ofWales, having Raign’d long and happily in his setled Dominions, dying, left several Sons, who quarrelling, their elder Brother, as not contented with their shares of the Principality, nor to be under him, having gotten no mean Interests and Claims to the whole by their struglings, so weakned one another, that they open’d a way to the loosing of all.
David Powel in Historia Cambriæ.
Amongst these Brothers,Madok, a Prince of a milder disposition, weary of such unnatural Dissentions, threw up his share, better contented to seek new Fortunes abroad; whereupon there were many soon perswaded to venture their lives with him, where ever he would please to Transport: So Rigging a small Fleet, he Sail’d Westward, far beyondIreland, where at last he discover’d an unknown and un-inhabited Countrey, but wondrous pleasant, the Air being temperate, and the Soyl most fertile: Glad of this good success (as the Story says) he returning, spreading the Fame of this his New-Found-Land,which they might exchange for a barren Soyl, hatter’d and harass’d with an endless Civil-War.
No small number flock’d to these Summons, as a most acceptable Undertaking; so that soon after he was able to send forth ten good Ships, Freighted only with Men, Women, and Children, and all other Materials fit for a new Plantation; which not long after Landed inAcuzamil, a Countrey in the North ofAmerica, asFrancis Lopez de Gomarabelieves, because there he onely found some remaining Tracks of Christianity, a People that worshipp’d the Cross, but knew no reason why or wherefore they ador’d that sign of our Redemption. Now, some will say, that this Worship of the Cross is no argument to prove, that theBrittishChristians first Planted in the North ofAmerica; but what will not time and change of place do, where Transplanted People keep no Records, so they forget not onely Religion, Laws, and Customs, but who they were, and from whence they came, Oblivion first mutilating, and at last swallowing up all; of which, take this one late president.
Strange occasion ofDe la Roche.
Anno 1598.The DukeDe La Rocheobtain’d leave of theFrenchKing, to transport a Colony of Volunteers toNew France; in his way he Landed fifty Men on the IslandDe Sable, to rest his Passengers, and that he might the better, and with more ease explore the Countrey, and when resolv’d where to settle, then to fetch them off; who accordingly, as design’d, soon after, returning thither, was met with so violent a Storm, that not being able to Weather the Isle ofSable, where he left his People, he lost his whole Expedition, and was driven back to aFrenchHarbor, where no sooner arriv’d, he was so highly charg’d, that he was cast into Prison, when those he had left neglected upon the Isle, were not once so much as thought of; in this interim, they never expecting to hear more of their Captain, liv’d in a wild and miserable condition, feeding upon Fish, and sometimes wild Swine, without Bread, Drink, or Salt.
When the Baron ofLeriwent with Letters Patents, to be Governor ofNova Francia, and by stress of Weather in his Voyage, was forc’d to put in atSable, where he found the remainder ofLa RochesPeople, who being from fifty reduced to twelve, having clad themselves in Sea-Wolves Skins, they had not onely lost their formerFrenchCivilities, but forgot in a manner their Religion, much of their Language, and what they were, being as if Metamorphos’d into bestial Salvages.
If some did not come accidentally toAmerica.
And although we have already controverted the improbability of PeoplingAmerica, either by accident of Storm, or set purpose; yet it may be possible that so it might happen, for as the several vertues of Plants, Herbs, Precious-Stones, and Minerals, though strangely occult, and so altogether unknown, that what could never be found by Art, meer chance hath brought to light, and their wondrous qualities, some casual accident hath made apparent; so strange and remote Countreys never to be found in our Charts, or Maps, nor Registred in any Story, Seamen bound to their intended Harbors, have stumbled on by chance, either Hood-wink’d by blind Mists, or forc’d upon by pertinatious Weather; of whichAmericamay be her own witness, for how wasColumbusstirr’d up, but by incitations of the Journals of a Sea-Captain, dying in his House, driven on theAmericanIslands by foul Weather.
Americawas Peopled presently after the Flood.
Giants inAmerica.
Conjurati fratres,Virg. Georg.
The Flood acknowledg’d there.
Although from the foremention’d places, and after the same manner,Americamight be furnish’d with Inhabitants; so it also gives us a more certain assurance, that the Planting ofAmericawas not onely soon after the Flood, but that they came also thither by Land: And how strangely would it be againstthe Majesty and Wisdom of Divine Providence, to leave half the Universal Globe, a World fully supply’d with all sorts of Creatures, fit for Food and Service, Plants, Herbs, and the richest Minerals, like a House new built, and well furnish’d, without a Master or any Inhabitant,viz.Man, who being of Celestial Extract, should be able to acknowledge and glorifie the Creator, by admiring the Creature in his great Works: Besides, the confus’d Notions and Fables of Giants, Perpetrators of all manner of Crimes, and wallowing in all kind of sensual Debaucheries, are always remembred among the Antiquities of theAmericans, and that they had some slender hints of antient Truth, not onely of the Giants before the Flood, but of those that soon after the rank fatness of the Earth, produc’d and fed to that pitch of Arrogance, that the covenanting Brethren defi’d God, fortifying themselves to fight him by the advantage of that their long congested Pile,Babel, which in a short time was transverted by theHeathenPoets into theirGigantomachia, heaping Hills on Hills, like theAmericanTraditions: From which we may conjecture, that they came thither in the time ofNoah; for why may not any believe, whenNoahliv’d three hundred years after he Landed on MountArarat, that he took care to People the World? And who will make him ignorant of this New World, who living five hundred years before, might not improbably by his own industry and the help of the former long-liv’dPatriarchs, been well able to make a general Survey of the Old; and he could better furnishAmerica, it being nearer MountArarat, than supplyItaly,Spain,Germany, or any Northern Territories inEurope, so thatAmericamight be known to the first people after the Flood, nay, inhabited by them, though since that, the knowledge was lost.
Plinycomplaining of the Supine negligence, and stupendious sloth which reign’d then and long before as he had observ’d, among all people, and in every place, who were so far from making inquiry after discoveries of Lands for new Plantations, that they lost the old, when they had begun to settle, though under the greatest serenity of Peace; The Sea by that means lying open beyond what any juncture of former times could be proud of.
Canary Islands, by whom discover’d.
HesperianGardens, what they signifie.
Yet theFortunate, orCanaryIslands were in the first ages afterNoah, frequented with Vessels, which in later times were altogether neglected, tillGuillaum Betancourt, a Gentleman ofPicardye, brought them again to be taken notice of by a fresh Trade. The Fable of theHesperianGardens, and the Dragon that kept the Golden Fruit, with constant Vigils, is nothing but an allusion to the Sea, which with Serpentine Embraces, not onely secur’d these scatter’d Isles, but swallow’d up several Adventurers that too hardy made their unhappy approaches for discovery.
Another Allegation for the Planting ofAmericaby Land, both whose sides are wash’d on the East and West, by the South and Atlantick Ocean, may be thus probably made out: The Atlantick rowls over with almost Fathomless Waters, three thousand Leagues of Ground; the South-Sea not much less, which well may be, being indeed but one continu’d Sea, encompassing, till meeting there, the Universal Ball; whence springs a more likelyhood, thatAmericamight be Planted from the Southern parts, from theStraightsofMagellan, andLe-Mayr.
Relatio de Terra Australe.
The Description of the unknown South.
Peter Fernandes de Quirrelates, That he and a Commander,Lodowick Paes le Torressaw a part of the South Countrey, and in it innumerable Inhabitants,Whites,Blacks,Sallows, with long, black, curl’d, Woolly, and yellow Hair. They know no Walls or Fortresses for Defence, Laws or Kings, but are dividedinto Tribes: They use indeed Bows, Arrows, Clubs, and a kind of Spears: Their Houses are cover’d with Palm-Tree-Leaves; their Housholdstuff consists onely of a few Earthen Pots, and such Trinkets; yet they have some little skill in Weaving, and though they go naked, pride themselves in Neck-Laces and Bracelets, made of Mother of Pearl: But these for their Complexions and Constitution of Body, Customs, and manners, are rather deriv’d from theAmericans, than they from them, and therefore we must seek for their Original from the North; from which are but two ways, one fromYslandandGroenland, whichGrotiusendeavors to prove, but contradicted; the other out ofTartary, which certainly was the first Nursery, from whence theAmericanswere Transplanted.
Description ofTartary.
TartaryorTattary, so call’d from the RiverTatter, which runs thorow the CountreyMongulinto the Northern Ocean, covers a great part of the Terrestrial Globe; the lesserTartarymakes out a considerable part ofEurope; the greater isAsia.
This greatTartary, which is a thousand Leagues long, and six hundred broad, reckons five chief Provinces,viz.the wildTartary, inhabited by Herdsmen;Sagatai, of which the Metropolis isSamarcand, famous for the mightyTamerlane; nextTurkestan; thenKitai, which the greatChamCommands; and lastly,Old Tartary, according toAndreas Cæsariensis, the habitation ofGogandMagog.
Now we must enquire from whatTartarstheAmericansare Extracted:
Thrianl. 67.
If theIsraeliteswereTartars.
Mornæus,Postellus,Genebrardus,Poterus, and others are of opinion, That theTartars, which about the year 1228. under the Command ofZingis Chamoverspread the Earth like a deluge, were the Successors of the ten Tribes ofIsrael, which were carry’d into captivity toAssyriabySalmanazar. The nameTartary, or ratherTattaria, seems to be some testimony thereof, because it signifies in theSyrianorHebrewTongue,RemnantsorRemainders, as seemingly, because theseTartarianswere remainders of the foremention’d Tribes; nay, the NorthernTartaryHerdsmen preserve to this day the NamesDan,Zabulon, andNaphthali: Wherefore we need not to admire, why so manyJewsare found inRussia,Sarmatia, andLiefland; nay, the nearer toTartary, the moreJewsthere are.
Circumcision hath a long time been observ’d among them, beforeMahometbrought in his new Law; it seems, thatMahometorder’d the Circumcision and other Laws, according toMoses, to be observ’d by the Northern people, because that in his time, they began to Rebel, that so they might the better be kept in awe by their new Religion.
Pand. Hist. Turcica.
Joannes Leonclaviusrelates, That inLieflandnearRiga, he heard the wilde Natives call’dLetti, not without great admiration, go crying along the High-Ways and Fields, with a doleful voice,Jeru, Jeru, Masco lou: It is believ’d that they mourn forJerusalemandDamascus; but by their long continuance in the vast Wildernesses, they have forgot their Religion and Laws, and what else might enable to tell us who they were. Several learned Authors question this removal of theIsraelitesout ofAssyriatoTartary, though to our Judgement their Arguments are too weak, to take from them of the footing they have gotten there; yet nevertheless, theIsraelitesare not to be taken for the Planters ofAmerica, for why else is notJudaismeas well found inAmericaas inTartary. But it is already shewn, thatAmericawas inhabited long before the dispersion of theIsraelites.
Americansare not deriv’d fromAfricanorEurope.
ButAsia, and chiefly out ofTartary.
Now to shut up all, it is evident, that the first Planters ofAmericawere notEuropeansfrom the dissimilitude of the People, both in their Complexions, Languageand Persons; norAfricans, because that in all the far-spreading Countrey ofAmerica, not oneNegrois to be found, except a few near the RiverMartha, in the little TerritoryQuarequa, which must by Storm be drove thither from theGuinnyCoast: So thatAsia, the Mother of all People, onely remains to be Implanter of ourAmerica, whose Western Coast, opposite toAsia, is more inhabited than to the East, where it respectsEurope.
Tartaryis not parted fromAmericaby theStraightsofAnian.
Moreover,Armenia, out of which, byNoah’s Progeny, the whole Earth was re-peopled, borders onScythia, now call’dTartary, andTartaryfacesAmerica, separated onely by theStraightsofAnian; though some are of opinion, that out of the South into the Frozen Sea, there is no passage thorow theseStraights, else (as we have already prov’d the contrary) how came all those Voracious and Poysonous Beasts intoAmerica, if it be clearly separated fromAsiaby Sea?
It deserves here to be related, what happen’d toHenry Cornelison Schaep, andWilliam Byleveld, Sailing fromBataviato discover theTartarickRiverPolysange, but were taken and carry’d Prisoners to theJapanCourt atJedo; being Commanded there by Order of the Councel to give an account of aJapanMap or Card, which was laid before them, and contain’d the Provinces ofJapan,Amboina, theMoluccaIslands,Manilha, theSouth-Sea,Borneo,Celebes,Malacca,Tartary,Formosa,Corea, and the vast and Mountainous Countrey or Desart ofJesso, separated fromJapanby theStraightsofSungar; though toward the North, it joyns toJapanin the Province ofOchio; and beginning in forty seven degrees, run North-East towardsAmerica, but they could not possible find theStraightsofAnian; but on the contrary, the Promontory ofTartary,viz.the ProvinceKatayaorKatuilay in the same parallel with the NorthernAmerica.
Ennead9. l. 6. Testimonies that theAmericansareTartars.
Hereto may be added, thatAsiahath no Territory any where, which may more easily with numerous Colonies supplyAmericathan this part ofTartary, as well for the vastness of the Countrey, to which no other can compare, as for the increasing of the Inhabitants: Who doth not admire, that according toMichalon Lithouwer, there is scarce a City inTartarythat boasted less than a thousand Temples? and to seeCanguistafirst King ofTartary, about the Year 1200. in Arms; and his SuccessorHoccatafollowing his Fathers bloody Footsteps, whilst he prepar’d his Sons with three vast Armies? The eldest Son,Jachis, March’d Westward with thirty thousand Horse;Bathodrew with as great an Army towards the North;Tagladaisbeing the youngest fell into theMooresCountrey aboveEgypt.Hoccatahimself March’d victoriously into the NorthAmerica, subdu’d great part of thePersianKingdom, and beat theTurks, led by the GeneralGoniatawith a great Army,Anno 1241.asJacob PlanensisandBenedictus Sarmata, twoMonks, sent by PopeInnocenttoHoccata, witness: The great number of theTartarsorScythians, may appear by the several people, spread far and near overTartary;Plinyreckons some of them,viz.Auchetes,Neuri,Geloni,Thussagetes,Budini,Basilides,Agathyrsi,Nomades,Anthropophagi,Hyperborei,Arimphei,Cimmerij,Cicianthi,Georgi,Sacores, and others: What number would the Inhabitants make up that live inAmerica, inTeneneuf,Virginia,Florida,New Spain,Guadalaiara,Guatemala,Terra firma,New Granada,Peru,Chili,Rio de la Plata,Brasil,Guaiana,New Andaluzai?
It will be worth our time, to compare the likeness between theScythiansand NorthernAmericans; both of them are differenc’d with special Marks of a more than ordinary and natural distance between the Eyes, which much alters the whole Air of the Face, and the plumpness and swelling of their Cheeks summitsabove the Cheek-bone; most of these are of a middle stature, having downy Hair upon their Chin, like the Callow Feathers of an unfledg’d Bird. Lastly, as theTartars, they differ amongst themselves in their Customs, yet in several things they agree one with another, according as they are govern’d by others, and yet other Princes, some powerful, and some weaker, according as every ones power be more or less. The Inhabitants ofLucajabear so great a respect, and stand so much in awe of their Governor, that if commanded to leap from a Rock, and break their Necks, they instantly obey.
The same is observ’d by theTartars; the first KingCanguistaCommanded the seven Princes of his Realm to Murder their Sons with their own Hands, which they all readily perform’d.
Constitutions of theTartarsandAmericansagree.
InPopainathey live to this day like someTartars, without Laws or Law-givers, who change their places by turns, from the great increase of theTartars, theAmericansno ways differ.
Bartholomeus de las Casaswrit toCharles the Fifth, That theSpaniardsin few years, onely on the IslandsCuba,Hispaniola,Naco,Hondures, inVenezuelaandNew Spain, destroy’d above 2600000. Men, besides the slaughter that was made inPeru,Brasil,Rio de la Plataand other places, which far exceed the foremention’d numbers.
Polygamy is still in use, both among theTartarsandAmericans; both acknowledge the Immortality of the Soul, both likeCannibals, Eating and Sacrificing Mans flesh. How famous amongst the Antients was the Altar ofDianainTaurica Chersonesus, where several Men were daily Sacrificed? How delicate, according toSabellicus, did theTartarsaccount their Dishes, Sauc’d and serv’d with humane Gore?
Geogr.l. 11 q. 7.
Straborelates, That the antient People account it an honourable Death to be chop’d in pieces, and their flesh serv’d up in Commons. Those that die by Age, a natural death, are despis’d like Malefactors, and as a punishment according to their Demerits, left in the open Fields, a prey to Birds and Beasts; some delight in that loathsome gorging themselves with Mens flesh, others on the contrary, not onely detest humane, but all manner of flesh: And just so theAmericansare distinguish’d, for although theCaribes,Brasilians, the Inhabitants ofNew Spain,New Granada,St. Martha, and others, Sacrifice and eat Men, yet as many abhor and detest that odious Diet and abominable Custom.
Giles FlesherQueenElisabethsAgent inMuscowrelates, ThatAnno 1588.Kinach Morsey, Grandson to the Governor of theChrim Tartars, made his entrance there with a Retinue of three hundred Noblemen, and two Ladies, of which one was the Widow of his deceased Brother. The great Prince inform’d of their coming, sent him two slaughter’d Horses, whose sides and Hanches they feasted on, as we on Fallow Deer.
Devil-worship inAmeric.
Most of theTartarsuse no manner of Letters or Characters; in the Voyage made intoPersia, they first learn’d to make Letters; just so it is inAmerica; their bemoaning of the dead ends in one Moneth, both by theTartarsandAmericans; with a Person of Quality, theTartarsbury a live Servant; the same Custom is observ’d by some of theAmericans; and so much do they agree in a salvage and rude life, that Merchandizing and Mechanicks are little regarded.AysontheAmericanacknowledges theTartarsfor a rude People in their Religion, Habits, and Dwellings, and yet in all these theAmericansdiffer but very little. Lastly, How common is it amongst them to worship the Devil? Along the RiverSagadahoc, the Inhabitants are every new Moon miserably tormented byan Evil Spirit call’dTanto. In the Temples inVirginiaremain yet the horrible Images of the DevilsOkaandMenetto. Not a House inMexico, but hath a peculiar Chappel, set apart for this their suppos’d holy, but damnable Adoration of the Devil. Others inVirginiabelieve, That there is a great and supreme Deity, which is Everlasting, and for ever. TheTartarsalso are of the like perswasion.
TartarianHorses.
But this OpinionGrotiushath laid a strong and dangerous Battery against, thatAmericacould not be Peopled by theTartars, because theAmericansbefore theSpaniardscoming thither, had never seen any Horses; whereas theTartarsuse no Beast more, either in Peace or War, nor can less want: For theTartarianForces do not only consist in Horse; but the Wealth of this Countrey is reckon’d up in the numerous Breeds of Horses, and several Studs of Mares. Some of the Nobless keep a thousand Horse; none, though never so poor, but keep two or three; and Beggars there mounted crave Alms and Charity of the People. When they remove their Habitations, their Horses carry their Provisions and Tents: If Provisions grow short, they eat Mares Milk, high gusted with Garlick, which satisfies Hunger and Thirst; and the red Liquor which they tap warm from their Veins, serves them to help Digestion, and heighten their Humor, instead of the Blood of the Grape, our sweet Wine. The swiftest Rivers, though raging and precipitated with Land-floods, they dare adventure swimming their Horses over, hanging naked by their Manes, and guiding them by a slipp’d Rein whither they please: To their Tails they tie their Saddles, and other Necessaries, bound up in Rushes. When a Person of Quality prepares to cross any River, they tie two Horses Tail to Tail, and athwart both their Backs fasten a Mat pleited of Rushes, to sit on. When they are stopp’d at any broad River, or standing Lake, they kill and flea their worst Horses; then turning the Skins inside out, and well Liquoring, they stretch them open with the Ribs, which stand like the Bayles of a Tilted Wherry, and thus furnish’d, serves them for a Boat to carry eight Persons. When they take the Field, going to War, not any but musters three Horses; which makes their Armies, when drawn out in Campain, shew much bigger than indeed they are: And though many of them are kill’d in the Wars, or slain for Food, yet theEuropean Tartarspay yearly forty thousand Horses to theRussians; from whenceGrotiusthus argues, “IfAmericajoyns toTartary, then the Horses which run wild at Grass might easily have foundAmericathemselves, seeking to improve their Pasture, and have gone from one Countrey into the other, as it appears, that since theSpaniardstransported Horses toAmerica, they are dispers’d over the highest Mountains, out of one Province into the other: Or if theStraights of Anianrun between both, theTartarsnever were Navigators; and suppose they had been, they would not have cross’d without Horses, without which they knew not how to subsist.” To which we only say thus, That althoughTartarynow, and in former times, abounded in Horse, yet must we grant, that it hath been always so? or that the ancientScythians, who we avouch first plantedAmerica, had such frequent use of them as theTartarsnow. This may be controverted, for that theseScythiansplanting there in the Non-age of Time, presently after the Flood, the use of Horses was unknown, which the Ancient Poets testifie by their Fiction ofCentaurs, who when first seen, the Horse and Rider were taken for one Creature. The like mistake theMexicanshad, when they saw the mountedSpaniards, a thousand running away from one Cavalier.
As to their coming thither of themselves, it may easily be confuted: Who knows not, that there is no Countrey a continu’d Pasture, but luxurious Vales separated with inaccessible Mountains, Lakes, and vast Wildernesses. ButDavid Ingramrelates, “That he saw some Horses in the NorthernAmerica, which theMexicans, and other Conquests of theSpaniardsnever heard of:” Whereupon we may conclude, and we suppose without all peradventure, That theAmericanshave absolutely their Original fromTartary, which borderingArmenia, whereNoah’s Ark first rested, hath a convenient way, though beyond theArtick Circle, through a temperate Climate betwixt Heat and Cold, toCathay, in the same Parallel with the neighboringAmerica.