CHAPTER VIII.
THE INOVATIONS UPON THE CUSTOMS OF THE TYRIANS
IN AMERICA EXPLAINED.
A small space will be sufficient for this explanation. Any innovation upon a National custom, demonstrates an anterior existence of that custom; and that the innovation, as a necessity, must follow, or be posterior in date to the custom innovated upon.
In ancient Mexican America (at the Spanish Conquest) there were Religious customs and National usages not essentially of the Tyrian character,—yet, through the vista of the innovations,—the "Daughter of Sidon" was still discernible,—like the Statue of Minerva in her Temple of the Acropolis, even after the Sons of Rome had innovated upon the customs of Attica.
All the innovations upon the ancient Tyrian customs in Mexican America are traceable to an Event, about three centuries and four score years after the Tyrians first touched at Florida,—an Event not to be investigated here, as it belongs essentially to the third Epoch, viz., the introduction of Christianity:—but, to that fact may be traced the immediate cause, of many innovations upon the Idolatrous customs of the Tyrians, in several parts of Ancient America,—it led even to alterations of the ornaments on their Temples, as will be shewn in establishing the Event so full of Religious veneration, and,—as a learned divine justly said, in receiving our proof of the third Epoch,—so fraught with Christian Sublimity.
END OF BOOK THE FIRST, OF VOLUME I.
EPOCH THE FIRST.
Book the Second.
———
THE TYRIAN ÆRA;
OR,
THE FOUNDING OF ANCIENT AMERICA,
CONTINUED.
AND
HISTORICALLY ESTABLISHED,
AS BEING IN THE YEAR 332 BEFORE CHRIST.
Horatio.
O day and night,—but this is wond'rous strange!
Hamlet.
And, therefore, as a stranger, give it welcome.
There are more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in our Philosophy!
Shakspeare.
Book the Second.
THE SCRIPTURAL, POLITICAL, AND COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF THE PHŒNICIAN NATIONS,—BUT ESPECIALLY OF THE KINGDOM OF TYRUS, AND THE MIGRATION TO THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.