This period is indicated by twenty authentic sources of ancient history, and the ancient traditions of Europe about the happy land of the west, Elisha or Elysium, Hesperides, Cocana of the Spaniards &c.: besides the happy state in which Hayti was found.—See the account of the ancient notions and communications with America, [pg 193] and the great Atlantis: the most explicit is found in Diodorus Siculus, as follows.
48th Event. The Phenicians driven by a storm, while going from Gades to Africa, discover the large island Atlantis, many days in the ocean west of Lybia. It was very fruitful, with mountains, large plains and navigable rivers; with many woods and fruits, fine valleys, plenty of wild beasts and fish. The air is mild and healthful; it is a residence fit for gods: the inhabitants are a strong and healthful people; they have many towns, with stately buildings, houses of pleasures, gardens, orchards &c.—Diod. Book V.
The translators of Diodorus have blundered so far as to deem this island Madeira or the Canaries; which are small islands, without streams, and the first without inhabitants. It can only apply to Hayti, or even the continent of South America.
49th Event. A black people came to Hayti from the south or south-east, who had darts of Guanin metal, and were called the Black Guaninis.
This tradition preserved by Herrera, Garcia and Charlevoix, indicates a colony of Negroes or men painting black, from South America. They might be the black Negroes of Quarequa mentioned by Dangleria, or some other American Negro nation, of which there are many.—See my account of ancient Black Nations of America. Dangleria mentions two wild tribes [pg 194] of savages in Hayti towards 1500, one speechless! (which means they spoke a different language) probably a remain of the Caracols, another swift dwelling in caves, quite apart, seen in 1514 in Zauana of Guacarima.
50th Event. Navigations of the Haytians and Cubans, settlements of the Lucayas islands, Jamaica, and probably some parts of Florida: mutual trade with Cuba and the continent.
These colonial and trading voyages must have begun long before and have been continual. Columbus met individuals in Cuba who had visited Hayti, Jamaica and Yamaya, the Maya land or Yucatan. Yucayas or Lucayans knew Cuba, Hayti and Florida, which was called Cautio says Fulgar, quoted by Cardenas, who deems the Antilles peopled from hence, blending it with Cauta the original seat of the Haytians. South America was once called Guanin, afterwards Caribana when it was overspread by the Carib tribes. The Nachez appear to have come from Cuba. The Cumanas knew Hayti and called it Atsi.
51st Event. The Canibas (whence our Canibals) or the Caribas, (whence our Caraibes), a savage people, often feeding on human flesh, begin to spread to Guyana and South America; becoming bold navigators also, they send war parties and colonies to the peaceful islands of the Antilles, and even to Florida.
The Caribas evidently descended from the Galibis, and other akin nations of South America, did not originate in North America, as supposed by Bridgstock and a few others. Laborde who spent 20 years with them, and knew well their language, has published some of their traditions in 1704. Lon-quo was their original god, who made Racumon their chief or leader to America, who leads there the tribes of snakes, men, Cabatos-trees and birds. The true name of the nation was Cali, those of the main were Cali-nago or Calibis, of the islands Cali-ponam. Rochefort &c.—See my Carib Traditions.
52d Event. The Calibis of Guyana after long wars with Alouague the kings of the Aruacas, send the general Timani to conquer the Aruacas Islanders, Cahiris, Eyeris &c. who leads the tribe of Labouyous (vassals) and conquer several islands, killing the men and keeping the women.—Rochefort &c.