The History of Ancient America, Anterior to the Time of Columbus / Proving the Identity of the Aborigines with the Tyrians and Israelites; and the Introduction of Christianity into the Western Hemisphere By The Apostle St. Thomas

by George Jones

SECTION I.

"THE MEANS AND APPLIANCES" FOR THE VOYAGE.

In the endeavour to establish the fact contemplated by the title of this chapter, it will be necessary to bring to the memory of the reader some of the material points having reference to the Voyage around the continent of Africa. [Vol. i., Book ii., ch. vi., § 2.] Other points of proof will be given, and for convenience in numerical order.

1st. The Galleys. The larger Galleys were double-masted, and they had not only the large square sails which were exactly suited for running before the wind, from their central and balanced position; but they had also the powerful adjunct of the Rowers, whose services were rendered with or without reference to the assistance of the sails. The extraordinary power of the Rowers is recorded by nearly every ancient Historian, and from Scripture we have the character of their strength and fearlessness, especially of the Tyrians. Ezekiel writes in his description of Tyrus,—

"And thy Rowers have brought thee into great waters."

The fitness or the capacity of the Galleys will not be questioned, when thought is given to the previous expedition around Africa, and especially at the doubling of the Cape of Good Hope, which is far more dangerous than crossing the Atlantic.

2d. The locality of the Fortunate Isles (i. e. Canaries). This is important. These are situated on the North-West coast of Africa, in the Atlantic ocean, and within thirty degrees of North latitude, and, consequently, directly under the influence of the celebrated Easterly Wind.

3d. The East-Wind, and its proof of the truth of History. The reader will remember the detailed account given of this constant current of air, in the sixth chapter of this book. [Vol. i., Book ii., ch. vi., § 2.] We may, however, be permitted to repeat, that it blows perpetually from East to West, consequently over and from the Fortunate Isles directly towards America,—those Islands being within the degrees over which this orient gale has, and will for ever pass.

The direct opposite land to these Islands, on the American Continent, is Florida, it being, like the Isles, within the thirty degrees North latitude. Now any vessel or Galley to set sail before the wind from Teneriffe (the Isle upon which the Tyrians were), and place the rudder or helm fore and aft (i. e. not obliquely, but central), then the East-Wind would drive that vessel directly on to Florida. This fact is not more certain (as the map will prove) than the historical tradition of the Mexican Aborigines is extraordinary in reference to this fact, and to the original Theory forming the basis of this volume.

We stated in the Analogies, and it is now repeated with peculiar force and interest, that the Spanish Historian, Sahagan, who lived on friendly terms with the Aborigines for sixty years, and wrote only fifteen years after the Cortezian Conquest (1520), relates, that on the authority of Montezuma the Emperor, and his People, and the tradition from the remotest times,—handed down from sire to son,—and also from their historical paintings,—that their ancestors, as a colony, first touched at Florida!—that they crossed or coasted the Gulf of Mexico and Yucatan, and then finally landed and settled somewhere in the Bay of Honduras! Now the Copan river is a branch of the Montagua, which empties itself into the Bay of Honduras!

The reader will not be more startled at the above historic facts than was the present author at their discovery; for he had already formed in his mind (sanctioned by Prophecy) the Tyrian Æra of this History before his research brought to light this direct evidence from Sahagan,—whose accuracy of relation is, in this instance, on a level with Herodotus,—for both accounts are proved to be true by that powerful and incorruptible witness—Nature! The shadow of the Tyrians as a necessity changed from left to right in crossing the Equatorial line of the Indian Ocean;—and the East-Wind would compel the Galleys in coming from "the East," and upon sailing due West from Teneriffe, to "touch at Florida." The statement of Sahagan is the more valuable from the fact that it was not given to establish or forward any historic Theory, but like the words of Herodotus given only as a truth,—related by those of whom he was writing. "Somewhere in the bay of Honduras" brings the final place of landing (as stated) near the locality of Copan. We had already, from analyzing the ruins and altar, placed that city in our plan as being the first built in Ancient America. It was an additional source of confirmation to our artistical judgment in regard to the arrangement of the architectural data of the Ruins, when the tradition of the Aborigines, as given by Sahagan, was, that their ancestors finally landed "in the Bay of Honduras," and consequently on passing up the Montagua, the Tyrians would approach to the direct locality of Copan!

Taking the statement of the Spaniard, therefore, to be a fact (sustained as it is by nature) in relation to the place first landed on or "touched" by the Aborigines,—viz., Florida,—another strange incident is arrived at,—viz., that Columbus must have followed nearly the identical track of the Tyrians,—for the same East-Wind propelled his vessels, and himself and crew expressed their wonder and astonishment at its continuance; and it is an authenticated fact that he first lauded at St. Salvador (i. e. Cat Island). Now the Fortunate Isles, St. Salvador, and the first point "touched at Florida," are all within thirty degrees North latitude, and nearly on an exact line with each other,—St. Salvador and Florida Point are directly so, and only about 100 leagues from each other. The Tyrians, therefore, passed by this Island and landed on the Continent,—Columbus landed on the Island, and reached the Continent in his third voyage.

4th. The collective means for the Migration. Under this head may be included the "appliances" of both Art and Nature. Their Galleys were of sufficient strength and capacity,—their provisions ample,—derived from Carthage, the Sidonians, and the fruitful Isle of Teneriffe: their skill and courage as Pilots, Mariners, and Rowers unequalled,—the season of the year propitious, and a constantly favourable wind and flowing sea (although to them unknown as such) of sufficient power to drive them quickly westward, and compel them to reach the "afar off" land "to sojourn."

5th. The probable time and duration of the Voyage. The remnant of the Tyrian Nation, through the instrumentality of the Sons of Sidon, escaped from their naming Capital, August 20th [332 B. C.], and in allowing for time in reaching the Fortunate Isles, and preparing for their departure thence, it will, we think, be acceded that by October of the same year, and the equinoctial gales of the autumn having then passed, opened to them "fair weather ahead,"—they were then prepared to seek another home, however distant. The strong Galleys, with sails and oars, and always before the constant East-Wind and onward wave-current, would accomplish ten miles an hour by day, and during the night, without the Rowers, six miles an hour, and equally dividing the twenty-four hours, would make a run of 192 miles per day. Nautical proofs will shew that in the above calculation the power of the Trade-Winds [i. e. the East-Winds] are underrated. The distance from Teneriffe to Florida is about 3300 miles, which by the foregone data they would traverse in seventeen and a quarter days. The Voyage may therefore with safety be said to have been accomplished during an entire month, and that, consequently the first landing of a branch of the human family in Ancient America would be in the last month of Autumn, three hundred and thirty-two years before the Christian Æra.

And 6th. The Fugitive Founders of (what we think may now be justly termed) Tyrian-America, i. e. the Southern moiety of the Continent.

The Female portion of the Fugitives were in all probability (from the peculiar character of the rescue) the Wives, Sisters, and Daughters, of the Tyrian Husbands, Brothers, and Fathers, who escaped with them,—thus forming a "colony,"—and if there were among them any Strangers or Orphans from the general carnage, protection would naturally be given, as to companions and children of misery and misfortune.

The Fugitives being Tyrians, and of the great Sidonian family, which, in the language of Homer, comprehended every thing that was ingenious and accomplished, to the exclusion of their opposites, puts us at once in possession of the distinct intellectual character of those about to seek another land; and where, after 2000 years have passed, Time removes his veil of mystery, and discovers the truth of the Homeric tribute,—while over their Asiatic home of a more ancient day, Oblivion with her Lethean flood, has swept even their epitaph and their tomb away!

As to the number of the Tyrian Fugitives (more or less), it is immaterial to the proof, or denial, of the truth of this historical work,—for nothing is so deceptive, and yet so certain, as the numerical demonstration in regard to population, and of the human beings that have lived. For instance,—the reader will scarcely believe, that in tracing back his own family only twenty-five generations, there were then living at that time, sixty-seven millions, one hundred and eight thousand, eight hundred and sixty-four of his Ancestors,—and that there had lived, during, and at that time, one hundred millions, six hundred and sixty-three thousand, three hundred and ninety-six! These apparent incredible results are instantly proved upon the following data of facts and argument; viz., each child must have two parents, each parent had two,—and so on ad infinitum,—the result is, therefore, obtained by simply multiplying by two, from each of the first Father and Mother, and then add them together, and each sum total will represent a generation,—the 25th will give the first result,—viz., 67,108,864;—to ascertain all that have lived during, and at that period,—the several sums total must be added together, which will prove the second result,—viz., 100,663,396. Therefore,—by the data of this last calculation the 30th generation only, in the ancestral line, has the following result,—3,221,228,672!—(and this but of one person) four times as much as the present population of the Globe, which is estimated at 800,000,000. The great earthly Monarch, Death, has indeed an empire of his own!

The metaphysical, or anti-Biblical reader will find in the above results, a high theme for speculative reasoning:—but in tracing back to the Parents of Eden, or to the Diluvian Æra, in order to sustain, and not deny, the truth of the Bible, he must remember that,—but, no,—we will not anticipate our own secret for unravelling the above sphinx-like conclusions.

In the next Volume, devoted to the Israel Æra, the subject will be investigated with that due consideration, which every proposition demands; having an apparent tendency to question the truth and authority of Scripture.