After these general topics on American history, I had proposed to enter upon the peculiar annals of nations, beginning by Peru and Austral America; but wishing to give in this first volume something still more novel and striking, I have concluded to begin by the original unpublished annals of the Linapis, and the neglected traditions of the Haytians; who assert to have come into America, by the north west, and the second through the Atlantic Ocean. I hear besides that a French traveller D'Orbigny, is now publishing in Paris, his travels in Austral and Peruvian America, with 60 vocabularies of languages: where I may perhaps find additioned materials for the history of those regions.
Chapter V.
Original Annals and Historical Traditions of the Linapis, from the creation to the flood, passage and settlements in America, as far as the Atlantic Ocean &c., till 1820 &c.
We have but few real American Annals, given in the original peculiar style. Those of Mexico, Guatimala, Apalacha, Hayti, Peru, &c., have all been translated by abridgements or paraphrases. Those of the Ongwi by Cusick come nearest to the aboriginal form, using the usual personifications and animalizations of tribes, so common all over America and Asia; but so often misunderstood: having perplexed and disgusted the commentators or translators; who did not seize this form of style. Even in China, the primitive inhabitants often bear the names of beasts, Lung dragons, Chi birds, Yao wolf, Miao tygers. In India we find snakes, monkeys, lions &c. Early in Europe are dogs Canari and Cynetes, satyrs, lions &c., syrens, harpies, pegasus, centaurs, faunes, cyclops &c.[17]
In the Antilles the first inhabitants were called beasts or Caracol, turtles Icota, birds, opossums, seals, trees, stones, even gourds and fruits.—(Roman's Trad.) In Peru we find tygers, lions, giants, pygmies, snakes &c. In Mexico, birds, apes, snakes, [pg 122] tygers, giants &c. While throughout North America we find tribes of beavers, turtles, wolves, dogs, deer, birds. We must learn to appreciate this primitive form of speech and style, as allegorical names of men &c. It is very needful in order to understand the following narratives.
Having obtained, through the late Dr. Ward of Indiana, some of the original Wallam-Olum (painted record) of the Linapi tribe of Wapahani or White River, the translation will be given of the songs annexed to each: which form a kind of connected annals of the nation. In the illustrations of this history, will be figured the original glyphs or symbols, and the original songs, with a literal translation, word for word. This will furnish a great addition to our knowledge of American graphics and philology; but here the annals are chiefly interesting historically. I have translated, however, all the historical and geographical names, so as to afford a better clue to the whole.[18]
We knew by all the writers who have had friendly intercourse with the tribes of North America, that they did possess, and perhaps keep yet, historical and traditional records of events, by hieroglyphs or symbols, on wood, bark, skins, in stringed wampuns &c.; but none had been published in the original form. This shall be the first attempt. Lederer saw 200 years ago in Carolina, wheels of 60 rays, recording [pg 123] events of 60 years. Humboldt has mentioned the glyphical symbols of the Hurons on wood, seen by the Jesuits. Heckwelder saw the Olumapi or painted sticks of the Linapis; but did not describe them; he merely translated some of their traditional tales: which agree in the main, with these historical songs; yet the songs appear mere abridgments of more copious annals, or the bases of the traditions. The Ninniwas or Chipiwas, the Ottowas, the Sakis and Shawanis &c., all Linapi tribes, have such painted tales and annals, called Neobagun (male tool) by the former. Tanner has figured some of these pictured songs or Neobagun, in his interesting Narrative. Loskiel has stated that the Linapis had complete genealogies, with symbols expressing the deeds of each king. Beatty in 1766 saw records 370 years old.