USA > Louisiana > Sketches, historical and descriptive, of Louisiana > Part 33
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Shawnee understand each other no better than an English American, and a Spaniard.
Some of the most reprehensible customs of the Indi- ans, as they are so opposite to our moral sentiments, must not be omitted in a work of this nature. "They permit and sanction polygamy among them. The men are at li- berty to take as many wives as they can support, but not without the approbation of the old men and chiefs. A- mong some nations a husband has a right to repudiate his wife, or to sell or kill her as he pleases. Among o- thers, neither of these steps can be taken without the san- ction of public authority. Adultery and fornication are viewed in different lights by different nations .. Among some it is customary for the chief to present his youngest wife to his stranger guest, and if he refuses to sleep with her, it is considered as an affront. Among others, the chief presents his daughter, or, some other unmarried fe-' male relation. ' This custom is similar to one prevailing in Abyssinia and Arabia, where a stranger of distinction sleeps with the sister, daughter, or some other female re- lation of his host. In some nations of Indians, adultery is punishable with death, and fornication permitted. In others, fornication is a capital offence, and adultery is practised with impunity. But in some tribes, these crimes are not regarded. Mothers and daughters have been known to grant their favors in presence of each other ; and they are always ready to prostitute themselves, par- ticularly with the whites, whenever they are able to ob - tain a pecuniary reward for it.
· Much has been said and written on the subject of In- dian eloquence. They express themselves, especially in. their public speeches, in a bold figurative style ; and in this particular they resemble the orientals. Their ges- tures, though somewhat wild and extravagant, are rather graceful than awkward. They speak from nature, and not from education. 'They utter what their subject in-
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spires, and never advert to approved models as their stan- dard. Their language is barren ; and hence they are ob- liged to resort to metaphor, or to use much circumlocu- tion in the expression of their sentiments. This is doubt- less the practice of all illiterate nations. All languages are figurative in proportion to their barrenness ; and this is more pleasing and powerful than the smooth harmony of studied periods: Art will do much, but nature much more, Perhaps a profound knowledge of Ro- man and Grecian literature would have obscured the ge- nius of Shakespeare. Who at this day, except the untu- tored sons of nature, can utter the language of Ossian and Homer? What man, trammeled with the forms of. modern art, can speak like Logan, mentioned in the notes on Virginia ? The language of nature can alone arrest at- tention, persuade, convince, and terrify ; and such is the language of the Indians. They use many figures, which have an appropriate and technical meaning ; and hence those unacquainted with their eloquence are apt, either to misapprehend them, or to consider them as destitue of sense. " Many instances of the sublime might be collected from - their speeches ; but one specimen only must suffice. A' Miami chief in 1802, set out on a visit to the president. He called on the author of these sketches, at one of our western garrisons for money and horses ; but as he was not furnished with a passport, these were denied him till . the pleasure of the secretary of war was known on the subject. 'This was soon obtained, and it proved unfavour -...
' able. The chief then made a long speech on the import- ance of his mission, and concluded in this manner : " If I. " could only see my great father, and obtain from him one " word declaratory of justice to my nation, it would be " like the beams of the sun breaking through a cloud af- " ter a storm." Classic erudition, connot invent a more ap- posite and sublime sentence than this. The speeches, in- deed, of all the Indian orators are generally full of shining
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passages, which would have been applauded in the assem- blies of Greece and Rome.
There is a wide difference in the sounds of the Indian languages. Some, as spoken by the tribes on both sides the Mississippi are full of guttural sounds ; others are pregnant with a disgusting monotony. Some are harmo- ny to the ear, while others are dissonant, and extremely disagreeable. The Huron language is said to have copi- ousness, energy, and sublimity ; that of the Algonquins to have sweetness and elegance ; and that of the Scioux, ' though harsh, to be very expressive. These are unques- tionably radical languages. The two first are spoken a- bout the upper lakes, and extend to the western ocean. The latter is prevalent between the Mississippi and Mis- souri, and has been traced westward to the rocky or shin- ing mountains.
That the Indians were once much more numerous than at present, will not admit of a doubt; and it seems hard- ly credible, that the destruction occasioned by wars a- mong themselves, and with the whites, though very great, should have made such a wonderful reduction in their number. Hennipin says, that when he first visited the Mississippi, (in 1680) the Osages had seventeen villages; that the Panimahas (probably the Mahas, at this time a- bout nine hundred miles up the Missouri) had twenty two villages, the least of which contained two hundred cotta- ges. If these numbers be correct, they must have con- tained about ninety thousand souls ! This nation is now reduced to less than fifteen hundred. Many other nati- ons were equally numerous, particularly the Panaossas, Panelogas, Matotantes, and Panas. The three first na- tions are unknown at this time, at least by the names giv- en them by the early writers. Marquette states that (in 1674) the Chuoanous lived on the river Ouabouskigou (the Kaskaskias) in eighty eight villages. If he means the nation at this time known by the name of the Kaskas-
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kias, which was very powerful when the French first set- tled in the country, it is now reduced to about sixty per- sons. Many other powerful nations, who inhabited the west bank of the Mississippi, have either become extinct, or now exist in some of the more interior regions. The : Arkansas have endeavored to maintain their ground ; but from a numerous nation they are now reduced to a few in number, and have exchanged their proud martial spirit for the most contemptible pusillanimity. War and ardent spirits have wasted the population of our continent.
When and by whom America was first peopled, has perplexed the learned for several centuries. Conjecture, in part, must supply the place of historical facts ; and by a comparison of circumstances, and from the dim lights emitted by tradition, we must approach as near the truth as possible. That the Indians have different origins, is pretty evident from the dissimilarity of their features, language, and customs. Perhaps on enquiry it may be found probable, that we are indebted to all the other con- tinents for our population.
It is remarked by travellers and voyagers, that the in- habitants of all the islands in the oriental seas, however widely dispersed, have a greater affinity with each other, than with the people of the continent, in their manners, customs, language, and features. Columbus found the the natives of all the West India islands to resemble each other in the same particulars, except that each island had a language of its own. 'The same cannot be said of the Indians on the continent ; the difference between them, and those of the islands, is very considerable, but not greater than that among themselves. The inference is, that their intercourse with the other continents, and the islands we have mentioned, ceased at such a remote pe- riod as to give them the appearance of a distinct people.
The nations of Europe, in the days of Julius Cesar, resembled our Indians in many particulars, perhaps even
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În their color. They had the same confused notions of religion; they painted their bodies ; the pursuit of game was their chief active employment ; their modes of war, their civil regulations, their customs and manners, were similar in most respects to those of the aborigines of A- merica. The conquests made by the Romans, though prolific of blood, served to introduce the arts and sciences, and to extend and to embellish the sociabilities of life. Even at this day, the Tartars and Russians, the progeny of the ancient Scythians, and other northern nations, can- not well be distinguished from some American tribes. They exhibit the same modes of life. They are divided into tribes or clans, under innumerable petty chiefs; their civil polity, and their warfare, bespeak a very great re- semblance to those traits manifested on our borders. From these several agreements. it is reasonable to con- clude, that the relationship between the inhabitants of the old and new world, is much less problematical, and in- deed much nearer than some hare conceived.
It is well known that several of the ancients circumna- vigated Africa. It is even said that a colony of Phenici- ans passed into Ireland. Certain it is, that they built Cornwall in England, and Gadez, or Cadiz in Spain, where they carried on a considerable commerce in tin, and other articles. The Carthaginians discovered the Ca- nary Islands. In the time of Plutarch the Fortunate Is- lands were inhabited, and much celebrated for their fer- tility. When Columbus first visited Guadaloupe, and some other islands in the West Indies, at that time unin- habited, he found the ruins of buildings, and the frag- ments of ships. The Egyptians and l'henicians were the first to make discoveries by sea. "The Persians be- fore the days of Alexander, on the authority of Herodo- tus, fitted out vessels, which navigated the river Indus, and even passed into the Red Sea. It is highly probable, therefore, that, in a course of ages, some of the Egyp- 3 к
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tian or Phenician vessels, were driven among the islands by the trade winds, which begin a little to the southward of the straits, and continue for at least nine months in. the year. Most likely the vessels in those days, were not calculated for adverse winds, the mariners little skilled in the art of navigation, and perhaps still less acquainted with the nature and duration of the trade winds. If any of them were driven westward, they never returned; and- that this actually happened in the cot "e of time, is much more than probable. . It is natural to conclude, that they' first landed on some of the islands; and if they after- wards committed themselves to the waves, perhaps to pass from one island to another, the same winds necessarily forced them on our continent. In some of the first voy- ages of the Spaniards, a small colony of negroes was found in the gulf of Darien. No doubt these Africans arrived there in small craft ; and this is as credible as the voyages made by the Indians in the tropical seas, as men- tioned by Cook and other navigators.
The aborigines of America unquestionably derive their origin from some other country, and the claims on this point of the other three quarters of the world are nearly equal. Perhaps in early time the four continents were much nearer to each other than at present, but have since been more widely separated by some violent shock of nature, or by the evulsion of the winds and tides.
It may be proper to add here, that many of the Indi- ans practise the rites and ceremonies of the ancient Jews. Some of them observe the feasts of the first fruits, regu- larly perform ablution, and occasionally separate seven ? days from their women. When Magellan first discovered the southern extremity of this continent, the Indians in that quarter made the sign of the cross at their meals, and on other occasions. Cortez remarked the same thing among the Mexicans when he seized on their empire. These traits, however, if they actually existed, were
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probably accidental, and no inference of weight can be drawn from them.
That a colony from Wales arrived in this country in 1170, is much more than probable : But this subject re- quires a copious detail, and must be reserved for a sepa- rate chapter.
Many of the, Indians have a confused notion of their origin ; though in the course of ages their traditional ac- counts have become obscured, and in most instances un- intelligible. The Delawares have kept a register of the time since they first established themselves on the river of their name, and it amounts to upwards of four hun- dred years. This was done by putting a bead of wam- pum on a string, kept for the purpose, every year since that period; a circumstance to prove, that the Indians have the means of computing time, and of preserving the memory of events. The keeper of the Natchez tem- ple was once asked, whether his nation was originally of the country it then inhabited? His reply was, that the Natchez once lived to the westward, when warriors of fire came among them from towards the rising sun, in floating villages, which caused the earth to tremble; that they were bearded white men, who carried arms that darted out fire with a great noise, and killed at a great distance. When questioned relative to the origin of the Natchez, he again replied, that their ancient speech did not point out the country, but that their fathers followed the sun, and came with him from the place where he now ri- ses ; that they were a long time on their journey, and suf. fered extreme hardships; and that they were brought into the country without their seeking it.
This clearly favours the idea, that they were of foreign origin. The Phenicians planted colonies on the coast of Africa, and were almost the only adventurers in early times, who passed the pillars of Ilercules. They, and the Natchez, resembled each other in many respects.
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Both worshipped the eternal fire; the custom of scalping their enemies. was common to both ; and the language of the Natchez, says Du Pratz, contained many figurative and bold Syriac expressions. There is also a passage in Diodorus Siculus, which is quoted by authors to prove that America was originally peopled from Africa ; and it is thus translated.
" To the west of Africa is situated a very large island, " and distant many days sail from that part of our conti- " nent. Its fertile soil is partly plain and partly moun- " tainous. The plain country is sweet and pleasant, wa- " tered every where with rivulets, and navigable rivers ; " it is beautified with many gardens, planted with all kinds " of trees, and the orchards are watered with many " streams. The villages are adorned with houses built " in a magificent style, with parterres, ornamented with " arbors, and covered with flowers. To these the inha- " bitants retire during the summer to enjoy the fruits, " furnished by the country in great abundance. The " mountainous part is covered with large woods, and " with a variety of fruit trees; the vallies are watered " with rivulets, where the inhabitants find every thing " calculated to render life agreeable. In a word, the " whole island, by its fertility, and the abundance of its .. " springs, furnishes the inhabitants with every thing ca- " pable of flattering their wishes, and of contributing to " their health, and strength of body. By hunting they " supply themselves with an infinite number of animals ; " so that in their feasts they have nothing to wish for, ia " regard either to plenty or delicacy. Besides, the sea, " which surrounds the island, supplies them plentifully " with all kinds of fish, and indeed the sea in general is " very abundant. The air of the island is so temperate, " that the trees bear leaves and fruit almost the whole" " year round. In a word, this island is so delicious, that " it seems rather the abode of gods than of men.
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" Anciently, on account of its remote situation, it was " altogether unknown ; but it was eventually discovered. " by accident .. It is well known, that, from the earliest " ages, the Phenicians undertook long voyages in order " to extend their commerce, and that, in consequence of " these voyages, they established several colonies in Af- " rica and the western parts of Europe. Every thing " succeeded to their wish; and, as they soon became " powerful, they passed the pillars of Hercules, and en- " tered the ocean. In the neighborhood of these pillars, " and on a peninsula in Spain, they built a town, which " they called Gadez. There, among the buildings proper " for the place, they erected a temple to Hercules, to " whom they instituted splendid sacrifices, after the man- " ner of their country. This temple is held in great ve- " neration at this day, and several Romans, who have " rendered themselves illustrious, by their exploits, have " performed their vows to Hercules for the success of " their enterprises.
" After the Phenecians had passed the straits of Spain, " they sailed along Africa, when, by the violence of the " winds, they were driven out to sea, and the storm con- "tinuing several days, they were at length thrown on this " island. They were the first who became acquainted ".with its fertility and beauty, and therefore published " them to other nations. The Tuscans, when they were " masters of the sea, designed to settle a colony on this " island ; but the Carthaginians found means to frustrate " their object. In this they were influenced by two mo- " tives. The first was, they were fearful that their citi- " zens, tempted by the charms of the island, would pass " over to it, and thereby weaken their own country. " 'The second was, they considered it a secure asy- " lum, for themselves, if ever their republic should expe- " rience any terrible disaster,"
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Thus much of . Diodoras Siculus, the Greek historian. He was contemporary with Julius Cesar, and flourished a- bout sixty years before the christian era. If he had not said, that the place in question was surrounded by the sea, we should be tempted to conclude, that it was on some part of our continent, because it contained navigable ri- vers. The vessels of the ancients, however, cannot be supposed to have much exceeded in size some of our mo- dern row boats.
- Hanno mentions an island by the name of Cerne, situ- ated to the west of Africa, on which he built a fort, and. established a colony. It was the depot of the Carthagi- nians on the south of Africa. The situation of this island is not ascertained by ancient writers, nor is it known how long the Carthaginians maintained themselves on it. Whe- ther this is the island described by Diodorus Siculus, may admit of question. It may be proper to remark, that the Carthaginians were of Phenician origin.
It is said and believed by many, that our western regi- ons were once inhabited by a more civilized people than the present aborigines; and as an argument in favor of it, they ask, how is it possible for illiterate savages to con- struct fortifications on strict mathematical principles ? It must be admitted that the old fortifications in the western country, where they can be sufficiently traced and identi- fied, manifest in their angles and other particulars, a con- sìderable degree of skill and precision. - Many of them have regular bastions, and are constructed according to the rules of art. The figures or plans of the works are various; but in whatever shape they appear, they are al- ways suited to the nature of the ground, and calculated for the best defence. Are they not the remains of the Welsh, who are said to have passed into America more than three hundred years before the days of Columbus? They serve at least, to illustrate and to countenance that
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idea. The fortifications successively erected in England and Wales, by the Romans, Saxons, Danes, and Nor- , mans, must have been familiar to the Welsh in 1170, and if they ever landed on our shores, the science of attack : and defence, was probably the last to escape their remem- brance : Their situation doubtless exposed them to war, and frequent practice enabled them to preserve for a long time, the arts of it. They must likewise have retained `the science of building for a considerable time; perhaps . this was never lost till after the conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards. : What the Welsh were in the twelfth cen- - tury, the Mexicans were in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries; and these circumstances, together with some others soon to be mentioned, seem to support the conclu- sion attempted to be drawn in the next chapter.
.When Columbus visited Cuba, he was surprised to find a wall of stone, which displayed skill and dur ability : In 1517, Valasquez landed on the continent, within the dominions of Montezuma, and was delighted with the traits of civilization found among the natives. They had made considerable progress in the useful arts ; they lived in houses of stone, and their structure manifested skill and design. This indeed was the case in all the provin- ces under the jurisdiction of the Mexican monarch. The same was observed by the Spaniards when they entered the city of Mexico; the natives were remote from bar- barism; they were refined in their manners, intelligent, and in some degree learned. Like the ancient Egypti- ans, they knew with precision the annual revolution of the sun ; They fixed the year at three hundred and sixty five days, nearly, and divided it into eighteen parts. Their constitution was founded on the broad basis of re- ligion and law. Their cities displayed magnificence in architecture, and opulence in their decorations. The pa- lace of Montezuma had thirty gates, which communica-
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ted with as many streets. The front was composed of red, black, and white jasper, beautifully polished; and in a large shield over the gate were represented the arms of Montezuma, " A Griffin with expanded wings, holding " a Tyger in its talons !"
That an aboriginal king or chief, should have a regular coat of arms, appears rather singular; and it must be left to the learned to determine the origin of the one just mentioned. It may be proper, however, to remark, that , coats of arms were used by the great in the early times of Europe, and that they, as well as crosses, served for signatures before writing became prevalent. There is the more ground to believe, that the one of Montezuma was of European origin, as the Mexicans reported, and the report was confirmed by him, that their rulers were des- cended from a STRANGE nation, which came among them from a distant country.
M. de Guignes is of opinion, that the Chinese in the seventh century extended their trafic to the north west coast of America, particularly as the promontory of Kam- skatka, under the name of Ta-Shan, is mentioned in their books of travels. It is also said that California was known to them, because the Spaniards, when they first visited that part of the country, found the wrecks of Chi- nese vessels on various parts of the coast.
And Barrow says, that the natives of Brazil resemble the Chinese in their features, particularly in the confor- mation of the eye. The natives of Chili have a tradi- tion among them, that some of their ancestors came from the west, perhaps from the south of Asia; and there are those who perceive evident traces of Maylayan and other Asiatic dialects, among them, as well as among the inha- bitants of the islands in the Indian and Pacific oceans. One author has discovered upwards of twenty greek and latin words in the Auraucanian language, which is common to Chili.
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;-. It is admitted that Greenland was settled as early as 982, some say by the Norwegians; others by a colony - from Ireland or England, as they were christians, and had among them some Irish books, bells and crosiers. Greenland is separated from America by a narrow strait only, nor is it certainly known that any such separation exists.
The north of Asia and America are divided by a strait of about forty miles in breadth ; and the Indians in that quarter have a tradition among them, that, about two hundred years ago, this strait was much less dilitated than at present, and that the natives at low tides, were able to walk from one continent to the other.
It is now well known, that a chain of islands extends along the intermediate tract, over the Atlantic, between the coasts of Brazil and Africa, a distance of about fif- teen hundred miles ; and that another chain extends from some other parts of South America, across the ocean, to southern Asia. These islands are mostly inhabited ; and who will venture to say, that they were not in former time much larger, and more numerous, than at present ? " Who is ready to pronounce, that an easy communication did not once exist between them and the continents ? And lastly, who will deny the probability, that in ancient time the four continents were less divided from each other than they now appear to be ?
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