Proof from 1828 of who Blacks in America are. Enjoy the read and youre welcome for my share. FOUR LETTERS. ON AMERICAN HISTORY. By Prof. Rafinesque, to Dr. J. H. MCulloh, of Baltimore. FIRST LETTER. You appear desirous to learn something more of my Researches on the Ancient and Modern History of North and South America. I feel willing and happy to be able to answer your inquiries, and even to suggest perhaps some new facts. The continent of America has ever been the field of philosophical delusions, as Africa of fables and monsters, and Asia of religious creeds. All the various systems amd theories of monks and philosophers on the origin, climate, inhabitants, &c. of America, have been repeatedly destroyed by facts, and yet they find to this day many believers. To this day they speak and write of the Red men of America, while there is not a Red Man, (nor never was,) in this continent. To this day do they attempt to separate the American languages from all others, while their roots and structure are exactly like many in the Eastern Continent. When we are led by systems, or do not investigate and compare subjects in all their bearings, we are apt to fall into these delusive mistakes. But whoever will take the trouble, (as I have done,) to compare the features, languages, religions, customs, &c. of all the nations of the five parts of this world, Asia, Europe, Africa, Polynesia, and America, will find, (as I have found,) that mankind is a unity with many deviations of features, complexions, languages, religions, governments, civilizations, &c. all derived from single primitive types of those effect, and a common central focus. To evince this result in a single but striking point, doubted to this day by superficial inquirers, it is sufficient to mention that there were in America, before Columbus came, nations and tribes of the following complexions: coppered, tawny, olive, dusky, white or pale yellow, dark brown, and black; (but none red unless painted,) and that all these complexions are also found in Asia, in Polynesia, and in Africa. The native American Negroes or black Indians, have been seen in Brazil, Guyana, Caraccas, Popayan, Choco, North California, &c. Some of them, such as the Aroras or Caroras of Cumana, were black, but with fine features and long hair, like the Jolofs and Gallas of Africa. Others in New California, latitude 32, called Esteros, are like the Hottentots, Numuquas, Tambukis, and many other Nigritian tribes, not black, but dark brown, yet complete Negroes, with large thick lips, broad flat noses, and very ugly, with hair crisped or curly. The Negro features belong to the form of the head rather than the colour, since [there] are in Africa, Asia, and Polynesia, black, brown, yellow, olive, coppery, (and even white) Negroes. The American Negroes of Quarenqua, in Choco, (the great level plain 900 miles long, 90 wide, separating the Andes of South America from the mountains of Panama,) were black and with woolly heads in 1506. They are mentioned by Dangleria, and all the early accurate writers. The last two travellers who have seen these Negroes, are Stevenson, (20 years travels in South America, London, 1825,) and Mollien, travels in Columbia, Paris, 1824. Stevenson says that the Indians of Mannabi, comprising the districts of Esmeraldas, Rioverde, and Atacamas, on the sea shore of Popayan, are all Zambos, and produced by a ship full of Negroes who came in the country before the Spaniards, killed the former inhabitants, kept the women and formed a mixed race. They are tall, of a blackish colour, with soft curley hair, large eyes, flat noses, thick lips, &c.; while the true Zambos, or modern offspring of Indians and Negroes are of a deep copper colour, with thick hair not curled, small eyes, sharp noses and good lips. In another part of the second volume of Stevenson, is the following passage: The Puncays of Riobamba, in Popayan, have a tradition that once before the Spanish came, they were invaded from the West by a nation of monkeys; and as the Spaniards came the same way, they took them also at first for monkeys! In Mollien, the following notice is found: Two Indians of Choco, (whose true name is Guana or Chuanas nation,) where Danglerias Negroes were found, are very ugly and black, and their language harsh and rough. Some words are given which may be compared with other Negro languages. For instance, Man hemeora. Woman, Decupera. 1 Amba. 2 Numi. 3 Compa. 4 Aiapa. 5. Conambi, &c. In the same quarter, or the west shore of Popayan, we have on record two other invasions by sea. The first is that of the giants mentioned by Lavega, in his history of Peru, and the second that of the Skeres nation, 500 years before Columbus, mentioned by Hervas, &c. The white Indians of America have been seen almost every where, as well as the bearded Indians; to quote my authorities, would fill many pages. Many tribes in the Antilles, Florida, Guyana, Peru, Chili, &c. are represented as white as the Spaniards, by the early writers, who had no system to support like modern theorists, and many had bushy beards. In fact we find all the races, features, and complexions of mankind in America; and we find also out of it many nations with scanty beards, or plucking it as a troublesome appendage. Thus the three great divisions of mankind, in regard to their complexion, were found in America, previous to the modern Colonization. These three races have erronously been called White, Red, and Black, to which I have proposed to substitute the terms of Pale, Tawny, and Dark, which describe them completely; although it is not the colour, but rather the features, which distinguish them. The geographical corresponding appellations of Caucasian, Imalian, and Nigritian races may be equally objectionable, as well as the traditional names of Japhetian, Semetic, and Ammonian races, beacuse they are based upon theoretical origins. Whatever be their names, although once very distinct, and probably the three primitive [deviations] of mankind, they have since, like their primitive languages, become so much entangled, intermixt, and changed, so as to have assumed many other shades; white, whitish, rosy, ruddy, tawny, brown, brownish, blackish, black, ebony, &c. A similar confusion and intermixture has occurred with languages, which have split from primitive stocks into mother tongues, dead, holy, written, and spoken languages, dialects, and sub-dialects, &c. thus in the course of time, producing all the immense varieties of speech that have existed, or do yet exist. All of which, can, however, be traced to each other, by comparative philology deeply searched, in spite of theories ands the apparent confusion or diversity and difficulties. May, 1828. C. S. RAFINESQUE. Notes: (forthcoming) Vol. VII. Philadelphia, Sat., June 28, 1828. Whole 360. FOR THE SATURDAY EVENING POST. FOUR LETTERS. ON AMERICAN HISTORY. Of Professor Rafinesque, to Dr. J. H. MCulloh, of Baltimore. ______________ SECOND LETTER. The materials for a complete history of America, are more ample than is generally supposed. Besides the monuments existing every where, we have many early Spanish writers, nearly forgotten, but who ought to be considered as the fathers of our history. The didactic, philosophical, or colonial histories and annals of Robertson, Raynal, Ogilby, Hulmes, &c. have neglected them altogether, and are therefore partial and defective. There are also many manuscripts in the Mexican, Tzondal, and other American languages, as yet extant, which are valuable documents to be sought for and consulted. The pictured manuscript preserved by Siguenza, and published by Gemolli, which gives a concise view of the Aztecan emigrations, has often been alluded to by enlightened historians, but little understood. I have studied its import, aided by another pictured manuscript lately sent from Mexico, (and now in the library of the Philosophical Society of Philadelphia,) upon that same subject. Although they are somewhat different, they confirm and illustrate each other. They both begin with a passage of waters, which has been mistaken for a flood; but in the second manuscript, the man in the boat is paddling, and not lying down, as in the first; therefore representing a voyage by sea; and both terminate at the foundation of Mexico. The second manuscript has a different and only partial computation of time; but the first is more complete in that respect, and appears to go back 1608 years before Mexico was built in 1352, and therefore 245 years before our era. If we had the manuscripts said to exist in Chiapa in the Tzendal language, we should have new data to depend upon, as it appears that from thence, or the ancient empire of Otolum, came the Mexican tribes, and not from the north, as once conjectured. MOntezuma and Cabrera said positively that the Mexicans came from the east -- Tula, Aztulan, and Tulapala. Dr. Cabrera, in his work on Palenque, or Teatro Critico Americano, gives Del Rio[s] survey and figures of some of the ruins of Palenque. These ruins are 15 miles from Palenque, and near the village of Tumbala, (Tulapala?) on the river Otolum (Aztulan?) a branch of the river Tulija or Tabasco. They cover an extent of eight Spanish leagues in length, and a half a league in breadth; a Spanish league being equal to four English miles, the circuit of this ruined city must be 68 miles! therefore not improperly called the American Thebes or Babylon! The buildings were of stone, and are covered with ornaments, statues, and inscriptions! It must have been the ancient capital of one of the earliest empires in America, of which the empires of Mayapan in Yucatan, Utatlan in Guatimala, Talas in Michuacan, Toltecas, and Aztecas in Anahuac or Mexico, &c. were probably the children. The inscriptions prove, that, comtrary to the speculations of philologists, America had alphabetical writing! the letters are conglomerated in groups or words, and the words in lines, in all directions, as in Egypt. These letters are somewhat similar to those of Mexico, in rows, given by Humboldt, but more perfect, the Mexican being rather cursive letters. I flatter myself with the hope of being able to restore this alphabet, having (by comparing it with all the known alphabets) found the elements of it in the ancient Lybian alphabet given by Gramay, and the modern Ertana alphabet of the Taurics of Lybia given by Denham! Cabrera has also an ancient American medal of brass, very peculiar, and he speaks of many Tzendal manuscripts. The Tzendal or Choatal is the language spoken from Chiapa to Nigaragua, by the mountaineers, or oldest Indian nations. I have collected some words of this language, and am endeavouring to trace its African analogies. Ayeta published, in 1688, a history of Yucatan, which contains the history of the Spanish conquest and Spanish colony, with some valuable account of the Mayans or natives. This work has never been translated, and the only copy in the United States is in the Cambridge library. It gives ample notices of the traditions, mythology, astronomy, &c. of the Mayans. They had books folded like fans, as in India. They were more civilized than the Mexicans; had like them temples, pyramids, and gods for every thing, even music, song, poesy, love, wine, painting, medicine, &c. as in Grece. They had copper money! excellent laws; land in common, as in Peru and Crete, &c. Their astronomy was peculiar; the year began in July, and had 365 days, divided into 18 months of 20 days, and five additional days; their cycles were of four, 20, and 60 years. Although idolatry had prevailed, they acknowledged a Supreme God, Hunah-ku, and a Triad, as in India, called Izona, Bacab, and Echvah, which appear nearly identical with Vishnu, Brama, and Shiva, of the Hindus! They worshipped two ancient legislators, Zamna and Cuculcan, the last began the empire of Mayapan, towards 940, which was destroyed in 1440. Fourteen kings of Mani are named, who reigned till 1541, when Tutulkin submitted to the Spaniards. Besides Ayeta, we have a history of Guatimala by Juanos, now translated in English, which is another valuable addition to American history, equal to Clavigero, Lavega, Ayeta, &c. WE find in it the history of the empire of Utatlan, founded by the Toltecas, when they left Mexico; a new Trojan war, for an American Helen, which lasted above a century, &c. There is another historical work of Villagutiers Sotomayer, published in 1701, on the conquest of Itza,the last independent state of Yucatan: although very diffuse and desultory, it is filled with remarks on the language, manners, &c. of the Maya. The religious belief in a TRiad, or triple personification of Divine Manifestations, is well known to be of Asiatic origin, and to find it diffused in America, will lead to important considerations. It is not merely found among the Mayans, but also in Peru, Mexico, Hayti, Guyana, Cundinimares, Florida, &c. In the Mercurio Peruano, translated by Skinnerin 1805, I have found an account of the Inca religion, materially differing from pure Solar worship. The sun was a Triad, called Tarigatanga, and meaning three in one, and one in three: the three personifications were called Sun-father, Sun-son, and Sun-brother. Pachacamac was the Supreme God above this Triad. The Peruvians had vestals, prophets, bards, augurs, oracles, &c. as in Etruria; they honored also penates or lares. called Conopas; bethylles, or holy stones, called Huancas, linghams or Mamayoras; ancestors or dead bodies, called Mulquis, &c. as in Italy, Syria, India and China. A history of the Spanish missions in the Andes, from 1580 to 1790, by [Amich] and Terra, is inserted, in the above work; in which are mentioned the Conivos, a nation as white as Spaniards; the Mayorunas, a nation with long beards; the Maynus or Erim empire, where Egyptian hieroglyphics are used on earthan coffins, &c. The traditions of Hayti, collected by Roman in 1498, by order of Columbus are very striking: they allude to four successive races of inhabitants 1. The Xaias, before a flood. 2. and 3. The Dimivans and Caracols, after the flood, who were civilized by a bohito or priest, (compare with Budis and Bhotias of India,) called Conel, and also Baiamanicoel; compare with Con, the first Peruvian legislator; Cox of the Mexicans; Mani of Africa; Menu of Asia Coel meaning Celestial of Etrurians, &c. These races were conquered by the fourth, the Guanins, (compare with Guans of Canary Islands,) who came by sea from the east, and the land of Caanan, (compare with Canaria, Canaan, [and] Kahinan of Africa,) residing first at Matinino, (now Martinico,) led by Guagagiona, son of Hiareria. Their worship was that of Zomos, (compare with Shemins, Genis, &c. of Asia,) the Sun, a Supreme God Incahunagua Maarocon, (the god of the Berbers and Basks,) a Pentiad or goddess, with five names, and a Triad, Bugia, Bradama, and Aiba, identical with Vishnu, Brama, and Shiva of India! May, 1828. C. S. RAFINESQUE. Notes: (forthcoming) Vol. VII. Philadelphia, Sat., July 19, 1828. Whole 364. FOR THE SATURDAY EVENING POST. FOUR LETTERS. Of Professor Rafinesque, to Dr. J. H. MCulloh, of Baltimore, ON AMERICAN HISTORY. THIRD LETTER. Languages are now acknowledged, by all learned men, to afford important historical proofs, whenever history or traditions are silent. Philology is now become an appendage to history, as important as geography or chronology. -- The last general work on languages is the Ethnographic Atlas of Balbi, published in Paris, 1826. It contains tables of 16 words and 10 numbers, in about 600 languages or dialects; and it enumerates in all 860 languages, besides 2 or 3000 dialects, whereof 422 languages, and about 1000 dialects, belong to America, which he has not attempted to classify, (except geographically,) as he has done for the Asiatic and European languages. He points out but few affinities, stating that the Maya has some analogies with the Atlantic or Berber languages of Africa, the Guarani with the Sanscrit, (and also with the languages of South Africa, as I find,) the Carib with the Hebrew, and I find also with the Bask, &c. But I have found many thousand affinities between all the American languages, and those of Europe, Africa, Asia, and even Polynesia, besides astonishing similarities between themselves, so as to allow of a correct classification. I have collected many vocabularies of languages omitted by Balbi, from travellers and ancient authors, particularly of the Haytian or Antilan, (which I have found to have affinities with the Bask, Latin, Greek, Sanscrit, Arab, Copt, and Atlantic or Berber of Africa,) and the Apalachian, or Timuacan, or Yamasi, (which is akin to the Pelagian or Ammonian of Bryant.) the Tzendal, Watanith, Muyzca, &c. Your opinion that all languages may be traced to one or a few primitive original stocks, has long been highly probable with me, and receives daily confirmation from all quarters, notwithstanding the theory on the intrinsic diversity of languages and idioms, which are mere casualties, arising from whims of speech and deviations of words, taking place even in our days, and gradually forming dialects. It is among the most ancient languages, mostly extinct now, that we find the roots and stocks of the American languages; and it is no small confirmation of this fact, that what is yet extant of ancient American history and traditions, point equally to the same primitive origin of civilization, institutions, religion, colonies, and settlements, as well as the languages. It is no longer among the Tungusian tribes, who have furnished but a scanty hive of hunters and invaders in North America, that we must seek for the parents of the numerous civilized nations of this continent; but among the Atlantes, Guanches, Getulians, &c. of Africa, the Cantabrians, Gomerians, Etrurians, and Pelagians of Europe, and the Tulans, or Turans, Zends, or Hindus, Caucasians, &c. of Asia, where all these indications point. It is yet an interesting problem, whether Polynesia has given or received colonies from ancient America: I lean towards the second opinion, and am yet comparing the American and Polynesian languages. I have already found some affinities between the Guac or Huastica of Mexico, and the Polynesian dialects. The theory of the continuity of the two continents, which you have embraced as well as Clavigero, and some other writers. may exult in these facts; but the historical fact of the large Atlantic Islands between Europe and America, of which the actual volcanic groups are fragments, is still better supported. Carli has attempted to give us a map of the ancient islands between Cape Verd and Brazil -- Bory has sketched the ancient Atlantis extending from the Azores to Cape Verd -- Anspach has shown that the great Banks of Newfoundland are sunken Islands. They contend, of course, that the Atlas or Atlantic nation dwelt in those islands, and the sea still bearing their name. -- The same nation may be traced to America by their language; and they have given their name to 25 nations or empires, and 500 places or rivers: wherefore the opinion that America was the great Atlantis, or the Atala of the Hindus, is becoming probable. It will be sufficient to name a few of the fragments of this primitive nation in America. The Talas, now Tarascas, of Michuacan. The Otolum, Astulan Empire of Palenque in Chiapa. Antilat of the West Indies. Tolus, Atalayas, Atolas, &c. of South America. Tolans, or Tulans, or Toltecas, of Anahuac, &c. Talabas and Taluhis, of Florida. And the Cherojis whose true names are Otalis, or Tsuluki, or Tzalagi, or Telicos, and whose language is strikingly primitive, with Etruscan, Italic and Pelagic affinities. I consider them as the successors of the Talegawis, who were spread from the Lakes to the Mexican Gulf, built all the ruins and monuments of our Western States, and were driven South by the Tungusian tribes, from Asia, of whom our hunting Indians are descended. This conjecture is confirmed by the traditions of the Enguys, or Six Nations, lately published by Cusik, a Tuscarora Indian. This little work, the first of its kind published in English by an educated Indian, opens a new field and fills a large blank in our North American history. We find in it that a people come by sea settled the Southern part of the United States more than 2800 years ago, and that they formed an empire extending to the Lakes, the capital of which was called the Golden City. The Enguys, who sprung from the North, drove them beyond the Ohio and began the federation of the Atotarhas in the North. The Lenapis call this early empire, Talegawi; we find it since called Apalachia and Telico as late as 1650 and 1740. Thus, from fragments collected from many sources, we may be able at last to frame something like a connected history of the American empires and nations. But, in order to select these materials, we must often wade through a mass of prolix or tedious works. Thus, in Alcedos geographical and historical Dictionary of Americas, we find a multitude of scattered notices, mostly relating to Spanish colonial history. While in Capanis history of the Jesuits mission to New Granada, we find only two or three facts in one folio volume. Very little is found in Torquemada, Vanegas, Zamora, &c. but much in Tourons great American ecclesiastical history in French, and 14 vol. 12mo. also in Las Cajas, Piedrathita, Cardenas, Lavega, Molina, Southey, Beauchamp, Falkner, Azara, &c. and a host of travellers. Several works on America have been published by Italian Jesuits, of which Molina and Clavigero alone have been translated; but Hervas, Gili, Gumila and Jolis, are equally valuable. Itervas is a kind of American library. In Gilis essay of American history we find many facts on the nations of the Oronoco: he was the first to attempt to collect some words of the Haytian language, and has given many otehr vocabularies: he found a triad of gods among the Tamanacs, and a legislator, Amalivaca, came from the East. The Jaruras had, like the Haytians, a penliad or god with five names. In Jolis history of Chaco we find the Cacana or Calchaquis nation, at war with the Spaniards from 1565 till 1644, (when nearly destroyed,) practised circumcision like the Jews, but worshipped the sun, and thought that souls became stars. The notice on American religions and customs scattered through the works of missionaries are very numerous. They all point to solar worship, Sabeism and Shamanism. Idolatry was their corruption. The names given to Gods, Sun, Moon, Priests, Temple, &c. by two or three hundred nations, of which I have formed tables, often evince a remarkable coincidence, even among distant nations. The priests form a peculiar caste, as in India, Egypt, Etruria, Celtics, &c. among all the civilized nations of America, and the four castes of those ancient nations, are also found among the agricultural nations of Florida, Mexico, Maya, Antiles, Guatimala, Muyzcas, Peru, Chili, Maynes, Moxos, &c. they are nobles, priests, vassals and slaves, as in Asia. June, 1828. C. S. RAFINESQUE. Notes: (forthcoming) Vol. VII. Philadelphia, Sat., September 6, 1828. Whole 371. FOR THE SATURDAY EVENING POST. FOUR LETTERS. Of Prof. Rafinesque, to Dr. J. H. MCulloh, of Baltimore, ON AMERICAN HISTORY. FOURTH LETTER. Besides the Otolum alphabet already mentioned, there are traces of two or three others in America. 1. The Inscription in Columbia, given partly by Humboldt, the letters of which are evidently Pelagic or Etruscan. 2. The coins found in New England, and elsewhere, which resemble ancient Irish, Arabic, Persian, and Mogul coins and letters. 3. The Inscription of the temple of Secota, in North Carolina, given by Heriot, in 1586, as well as the letters used by the Winginans of North Carolina. These are evidently the ancient alphabet called Ogham in Ireland, Runes in the North, Arrow Letters in Persia, and Cross Letters in India, Arabia, and Italy. That these three kinds of alphabets, totally different from the Otolum, may have been introduced by visitors, appears highly probable, and I can show how in one instance. The Oghams or Runes have been proved by Higgins to have been a primitive alphabet, used by the Gomerians and Celts, perhaps as early as 5800 years ago! when the solar temples of Abury and Stonehenge were built in England, and thus might have been introduced by the earliest settlers in America. But there are two traditions of a holy visitor among the Mohigans and Tuscaroras; he was called Washqucow, and came to New York and North Carolina towards 1100. He could not be Madoc, since he was alone and a holy man. It must have been a Scandinavian christian priest. Several came to America after its discovery in 1001, and he might have introduced the Runes. There is another faint tradition of Madoc among our Indians, under the name of Meconick. The traditions of holy visitors are widely spread in America. Humboldt has only alluded to a few; but I have found similar notions of legislators and priests in Mexico, Yucatan, Hayti, Carib Islands, Oronoco River, Quito, Cundinamarca, Veragua, Florida, Carolina, Canada, New York, Peru, Tucuman, Paraguay and Brazil. It can hardly be the same who went over all these regions, since even several are mentioned in the same country, for instance six in Peru: Con, Cora, Tice, Viracocha, Ayacache, and Mango; three in Yucatan, Zumna, Cuculcan, Chilamcambal; and two in Cundinamarca, Bochica and Sagudiya, besides several elsewhere. The belief that it was St. Thomas who went thus about preaching, prevailed once among the Spaniards, being based upon the resenblance with some names, Tzomeh and Thomas... ... in Zamoras History of the Missions of New Grenada, we find that Sagudiya, which meant holy father, had come 1400 years before 1536 from the east to Hunca. -- This was after Bochica, the founder of the empire, whose name is also a triad, and ought to be compared with Bohito of Hayti, Bautio of Nicaragua, Votan of Chiapa, and also with the Bhotias and Budhas of the east. WE find much upon the empire of the Muyzcas in Tourons Clerical History. The priesthood of the Zacs or Pontiffs is stated to have lasted till 1618, and idolatry till 1685, in spite of the Spaniards. We also find in Touron, something additional of the history of Peru, and an Inca, omitted by all other writers, Cuzititu, who died in 1569, independent of the Spaniards in the Andes of Vilcabamba, and was succeeded by the unfortunate Tupac Amaru, last Inca, executed by Toledo in 1578. By other writers, the certain history of Peru can be carried as far back as 800, when Zipana became King of the Collas. The fabulous history goes far beyond it, to Chon, or Con, and a flood. He ought to be compared with Conel of Hayti and Cox of Mexico. Tiahuanaco was an ancient empire in Peru, long before the Collas and Incas, probably at the same time as Otolum and Hunca. The sculptures and buildings of its ruins are wonderful, and evidently primitive. It is probable that Peru and Chili were peopled and civilized from the north. The Incas were from the nation of Yuncas in North Peru, and Manco was grandson of Cocapac, their king, who sent him to civilize the Quichuas, among whom he began his empire. Many other powerful civilized states existed in Peru before the Incas. The Chimu, or king of Chicama, in West Peru, was conquered by them after a long strife. The ruins of Chicama and Mansicho evince as yet the ancient civilizations of that state. There is a hill covered with five thousand stone cells in regular tiers, some stones are 12 feet long, and resemble the Cyclopian structures of Etruria, Sicily, and Greece, which Humboldt denies to be found in America. At Mansicho there is an artificial mountain, five hundred feet high, like the Celtic, Atalan, and Babylonian mounds. The languages of the Muyzcas, Quichuas, and Chilians, have evident affinities with all the ancient languages spoken around the Mediterranean, and the Sanscrit, which was their parent, perhaps. The great seats of the most ancient civilized empires of America may be traced to Hunca and Tiahuanaco in South America, to Otolum, Cholula, ans Talega in North America, and to Hayti in the Islands. But besides these, several minor central seats of civilization are also found in Chili, Guyana, Amahuac, Canada, and Iceland. My remarks in thes eletters have rather been of a desultory nature; but to recapitulate some of their contents, I have tried to show that we possess many negelected materials on the history of this continent, and that many errors have been widely spread, owing to the indolence of our historians, who seldom search and compare all the extant fragments. In my first letter, I have stated that there are men of all complexions in America, as well as in Asia, and languages of all forms, as elsewhere, instead of red men only, and language under a single form. In the second letter, I show that a true alphabetical writing of great antiquity existed in America, and that the religious belief in a triad had extended to this continent. In the third letter, I have proved that the parents of the American nations must be sought for among the primitive eastern nations; that compared languages will enable us to supply the deficiency of traditions, and that the Atlantes of Mount Atlas, in Africa, and the Atlantic Islands, have reached America. While this last letter has been dedicated to find some of the ancient legislators and seats of civilization in America, these disquisitions offer a base and view of our history, very different from the actual paltry and partial accounts which have been given. Nothing but a general, well connected, ample and complete account of all the scattered materials as yet extant, ought to be considered as a true history of America. Although I have confined myself here to a few facts of leading importance, I have collected a multitude of others, relating or belonging to our colonial and independent history; and even the ancient history of this continent, before 1492, is connected with the late periods, since the descendants of our primitive nations are yet in existence, and some of them as independent nations. All these facts, events, and new views of our history will partly form the base of my OUTLINES OF A GENERAL HISTORY OF AMERICA, long ago announced, and to which I am zealously engaged to add. I find new materials every day, and thus les regret any delay which might be experienced. I venture to assert that it will be totally different from any of the actual misnamed American histories, and a true national history, as far as existing materials will allow. July, 1828. C. S. RAFINESQUE.
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