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 IV.

SEPULCHRAL ANALOGIES.

MUMMIES OF EGYPT, TENERIFFE, AND PERU, &c.

In the previous Sections of this important chapter, the customs and analogies of the living have been reviewed and compared,—those now to be investigated have relation to the dead.

In all countries the peculiar customs observed at the interment of the dead, have a distinct, and a National character:—those customs proclaim the people of a nation with as much certainty, as the Ruins of the Parthenon speak of Athens and the Athenians.

At the present day "the ashes of the dead" is a strong, and a poetic phrase, and used even by Christian writers,—whereas it is strictly heathen in its application:—"dust to dust" is essentially Christian, and the sentence belongs to, and identifies the modern European family;—while,—"ashes of the dead,"—indicating thereby, fire as the consuming quality,—points to India, Rome, and many ancient Nations as authors of the pyro-ceremony.

Pompey's decapitated body, though thrown upon the shore of Egypt, was consumed to "ashes" by the humble but honest follower of Cæsar's Master, that the sepulchral custom of ancient Italy should be accomplished upon, and by, a Son of Rome. The self-immolation of the widow upon the funeral pyre of her departed husband, points to the nation following that inhuman custom to be Hindoostan;—while the embalmed Mummies with their Sarcophagi, direct the antiquarian mind to Egypt, with as much certainty, as her "starry-pointing Pyramids," or her Sphinx-guarded Temples. Upon this accredited conclusion of the identity of nations, from the manner of disposing of their dead, will be claimed authority to establish a strong argument and analogy in support of the present subject,—and founded upon the fac-simile resemblance between the ancient Mummies of the Canary Islands, and those in Mexican America.

The general reader may not be aware that Mummies have been found in any other nation than Egypt;—they have, however, been discovered (but without the Sarcophagi) at Arico, in the Island of Teneriffe, and at Arica in Peru,—a similitude is discernible even in the local name given to the districts where the Mummy-pits are found. An analogy is at once perceptible in analyzing the ancient word Guanches (the Aborigines of Teneriffe),—it is derived from Guan,—i. e. Man,—consequently in his natural and uncontrolled state,—therefore Freemen,—this fact is sanctioned by their escape from thraldom or Slavery, when they first arrived on the Island, as will be shewn in the Second Book of this Volume. Again, in Ancient America, the places where Mummies are found are called Guacas,—i. e. the abode of Man in his decayed state. The Reader will instantly perceive that in the construction of the word, as used in both localities, there is a direct similitude. The first land also rediscovered by Columbus in the Western Hemisphere, was called by the natives—Guanahani,—the Genoese named it St. Salvador.

The word "Teneriffe," in the original language of the ancient inhabitants,—the Guanches,—signifies—White-Mountain,—(Thanar—mountain,—and Iffe—white),—from the celebrated Peak being (from its altitude) always covered with snow.

In the singular burial-cavern of the Capuchin Friars near Palermo, there are over 2000 dead bodies,—they have erroneously been called "Mummies;"—for the bodies are not in any manner embalmed, but dried by a slow fire, (or furnace-oven) and then arranged in groups around the subterranean galleries.

The word "mummy" was originally applied to a drug so called; and it was probably used by the Egyptians as one of their ingredients in embalming—or preserving—the dead. The Bard of Avon evidently so understood it,—viz., that it was a drug possessing a preserving quality. Othello's description of his "first gift" to Desdemona will explain.—

"That handkerchief did an Egyptian

To my mother give. * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * *

The worms were hallow'd that did breed the silk:

And it was dyed in mummy which the skilful

Conserved of maiden's hearts."

It may appear strange, at the first glance, that there should be any connexion between the Mummies of Teneriffe and those of Peru, towards establishing that the Mexican Aborigines were originally Tyrians:—but there is a connexion, and as certain, as that a chain of three links owes its utility to the connecting power of the central one. Teneriffe forms that central link between Tyrus and the Western Continent.

The natural and apparent question then is,—Were the Guanches (ancient Canarians) originally from the Tyrian family?—this we distinctly answer in the affirmative.

Mr. Pettigrew, in his valuable "History of Egyptian Mummies," has the following remark upon those discovered at Teneriffe.

"That the inhabitants of the Canary Islands should have adopted a practice of embalming in some measure similar to that of the Egyptian is rather singular,—seeing they were separated from each other by the entire breadth of Northern Africa." [p. 237.]

Now the above author assumes, as a necessity,—that the ancient Guanches (Canarians) must have emigrated by land,—otherwise the sentence "entire breadth of Northern Africa" is uselessly brought forward to express the barrier between the Islands and Egypt. The emigration by land cannot be sustained, but is absolutely rejected, from the fact, that the Guanches must have had navigable means to have reached the chief Islands even after they had arrived upon the Shores of the Continent,—which are nearly 150 miles from Teneriffe. This fact then points to a nation having acquaintance with Egypt, and the means of Navigation,—and also of one "advanced in civilization," for such were the now extinct nation of the Guanches, as related by Spanish historians. Truth seems at once to point to the Tyrians as the Aborigines of those Islands.

Mr. Pettigrew probably forgot that Herodotus has recorded the celebrated Egypto-Tyrian expedition around the Continent of Africa, and which occurred 609—606 years before Christ. It is apparent that the Fortunatæ Insulæ,—as the Canary Islands were called by the Ancients,—were discovered during the three years voyage related by the Greek historian, for they were known to the Tyrians centuries before the Christian Æra. This celebrated expedition, and the proofs of its being accomplished, will be investigated and established in the pages devoted to the History of Tyrus.

After the direful event which drove the Tyrians for ever from the Mediterranean (which will be elucidated hereafter), we believe that their first resting-place was among the Canary Islands,—and as the Peak of Teneriffe arose as a welcome beacon,—that Island became to them the chief place of temporary residence after their fortunate escape. It appears almost evident that the group was then named by the Tyrians,—for as the Fortunate Isles they are known in ancient geography. The name seems to allude to some "foregone conclusion," a peculiarly happy circumstance (i. e. escape from foe or wreck) being connected with the naming.

That the Aborigines of these Islands, and those of Ancient America were the same, will be admitted from the Mummies discovered in the two Countries. They are identical with each other, and they are not Egyptian,—for they lack the stone Sarcophagi, the hieroglyphics and the mummy Cloths. The mummies of Peru and Teneriffe are bound in skins of animals,—(a custom no where else found, although it is recorded of the Scythians)—those of the former in the skin of the lama,—those of the latter in the goat-skin, an animal with which the Island abounded, and with the skins of which the original inhabitants clothed themselves. The Mummies of both Countries are also, bound within the skins by leather thongs and straps, made from the hides of the respective animals. Such facts cannot be accidental,—they must be identical.

The manner described above, may have been the custom throughout all Mexican America;—that they are only discovered at Arica in Peru, may arise from natural causes,—viz., at Arica the rain never falls (as in Egypt) and the soil is calcareous,—and the dryness of the atmosphere, with the saline qualities of the earth, produce natural embalming; thus preserving the body for ages from decomposition,—while in other portions of the Continent, from the moisture, and the absence of the preserving qualities, the bodies would gradually decay, and return and mingle with the undistinguishing dust of centuries. Many analogies are found to the Tyrians, in the details and decorations of the Peruvian Mummies,—both of the rich and the poor. Those of the poor are invariably found resting upon beds of broken fish-shells;—these beds are supposed to be placed there for "religious motives." May not the purple murex (i. e. dye shellfish) of Tyrus (as on the Altar of Copan) be here alluded to by this religious custom? In the same Mummy-pits (and they extend over a mile) are found various models of boats, lines, and fish-hooks; these are buried with the Mummies, and they are evident witnesses of the occupation,—or the "religious motives" of the departed. Is not Tyrus here also?—her fisheries were her National emblems. And that this custom (whereby the means of sustenance were obtained) was practised in South America by the Aborigines, is distinctly stated by Dr. Robertson, upon the authority of Berrere. The statement, also, shews that the distinction between those of the North and South, or Mexican America is apparent,—those of the former depended upon hunting for their sustenance,—those of the latter,—or the Tyrian descendants,—as did their ancestors, upon their fisheries. Robertson says—"In this part of the globe (i. e. South America) hunting seems not to have been the first employment of men, or the first effort of their invention and labour to obtain food. They were fishers before they became hunters." [Vol. v., Book iv., p. 318.]

The boat-model is directly emblematical of a Religious custom of Tyrus,—copied from the Egyptian,—viz., the belief that the Soul had to pass through various stages and translations, before it reached its final destination or happiness. To accomplish this, the body was to pass over a River,—in a sacred-barge or boat:—the the helmsman was called by the Egyptians in their own language,—Charon. The Classic reader will instantly trace the mythological fable of Greece, concerning the Ferryman of the River Styx,—probably introduced into Grecian Thebes by the Tyrian Cadmus.

The Mummies of the rich discovered in Peru, are invariably wrapped in cloth, crimson (purple) coloured;—here then is the National colour of Tyrus, (derived from the shellfish) and which made that country so renowned. The colour itself is found enveloping the bodies of the rich,—while the useless and "broken shells" are found beneath the Mummies of the poor,—the same National tribute to both,—though in degree, according to the wealth of the deceased;—for the Tyrians, like the Egyptians, would not admit of any distinction in the grave, as to rank or title;—but, believed that in the great Republic of Death, all were equal,—and,—as in the Kingdom of Kingdoms,—that good deeds alone constituted the true distinctions.

In a notice of the Ancient Mummies of Teneriffe, the Baron Humboldt states, that they differ from the Egyptians in physiognomy, and that the ornaments resemble those used in Mexican America! Now when the illustrious Traveller wrote those facts (as shewn in the following quotation), there was no Theory in his mind in reference to the Tyrians,—yet his remarks will support this present History, and they are too important, as to undeniable authority, to be passed by indifferently by the reader. Baron Humboldt says—

"On examining carefully the physiognomy of the ancient Canarians, able anatomists have recognised in the cheek-bones, and the lower jaw, perceptible differences from the Egyptian Mummies. The corpses are often decorated with small laces [necklaces] to which are hung little disks of baked earth [clay] that seemed to have served as numerical [Religious?] Signs; and resemble the quippoes of the Peruvians and Mexicans!" [Per. Nar., p. 278.]

Here then upon the high authority of Humboldt, is an analogy traced between the ornaments of the Mummies of the Guanches (Tyrians) and the ancient inhabitants of Mexican America.

Upon every consideration of the subject the Mummies discovered at Teneriffe and in Peru are identical;—the same kind are not found in any other parts of the world,—and Teneriffe (as chief of the Fortunate Isles) was known, visited, and inhabited by the Tyrians.