Cortez wished to sail around the Bay of Honduras, the Point of Yucatan, and thence into the Gulph of Mexico,—and inquired if there were descriptions of those coasts. Montezuma instantly presented to the Spaniard Maps and Charts of the entire Coast, and from these, Cortez steered, and sailed in his perilous voyage around Honduras, and by the correctness of the Charts, he accomplished his expedition in safety. This account he wrote home to his Emperor and Master, Charles the Fifth,—it is consequently history:—no argument is, therefore, required to prove their Knowledge, and that of their ancestors in the Science of Navigation;—and what people in the Asiatic world were such "pilots and mariners" as the ancient Tyrians? If the Mexican Aborigines had sprung from a race (like the Israelites of the North) having no knowledge of navigation, it would have been impossible to have had Maps and Charts from their remote ancestors, and to have continued the scientific practice of that knowledge among themselves.
This is another strong proof of the two races of Aborigines on the Western Continent; and of the different means whereby their migrations were accomplished.
Sahagun, also, relates that from testimony of tradition, and their historical Paintings, that their ancestors, as a Colony—arrived on the American coast (first touching at Florida) before the Christian Æra! It should be observed that this account by the Spaniard was written over three hundred years ago,—it was then laughed at,—but the time was computed both by the Aborigines and Sahagun,—the former, as well as the latter, had a knowledge of the Christian Æra, as will be proved in the third volume,—That knowledge was conveyed to them after the arrival of the colony;—and nearly fifteen centuries before the conquest by Cortez!
The Ruins in Ancient America, together with relative facts, prove that Sahagun's account in regard to time is correct; and that their original ancestors did arrive before the Christian Æra. The same Historian says, that from their historical traditions, the Mexican Aborigines were originally a Colony;—which term may be received as explanatory of their small number, and that only,—for had they been "a Colony" according to the modern and general acceptation of the word, there would have been some Mother-land to claim her foreign Children,—but, none appears upon the Books of History.
They then arrived "before the Christian Æra,"—this then places them in a positive position,—for the Nation from whence they came, must have existed before that sacred period,—and the Nation (as a people) must have had knowledge of, and the means of Navigation, since it is already established that they arrived in that manner. The "mind's eye" must instantly glance at the Tyrians, as the people having those means, and being in existence anterior to the Christian Æra. The Tyrians did compose that "colony,"—not sent forth from their own land by care and affection; but, driven forth (as we will prove) by terror and despair!—They were the "pilots and mariners," and the "merchant princes" of the desperate hazard:—their knowledge and skill in navigation, were the champions daring the united powers of Neptune and Boreas, and upon a Naumachian arena, where a prow had never cut through a liquid track: Neptune permitted the refugees to pass on to freedom,—for the Ocean-God remains now, as when he first received from Creation upon his broad breast, the panoply of Light,—scarless:—and for all the wild wars of Elements and Man upon that panoply,—the lightning's rapid shafts,—the iron-tempest from earth's artillery,—still that bright armour—reflecting Heaven on its surface—retains no impress from the fierce battery of the Storm-cloud, or from Man's weaker power, or ambition!
SECTION III.
ARTISTICAL ANALOGIES.
ARCHITECTURE, SCULPTURE, AND PAINTINGS—THE PYRAMIDS OF EGYPT AND AMERICA—THE ANCIENT TYRIAN DYE—THE TEMPLES OF JERUSALEM AND PALENQUE, &c.
The Architecture and Sculpture of the Ruins, in order to support this Epoch, must possess an undeniable existence, and founded upon data, and strong analogy, of having a character traceable centuries before the Christian Æra. Four Sciences are required to be possessed by the original nation,—viz., Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, and Navigation. If we view for these purposes Hindoostan, China, and Japan, the characteristics of the first-named Sciences are totally different, while the latter is wanting to the extent necessary. Rome and Greece would present the marine power, but the Architecture of those countries would claim no affinity with that in America; for at Copan, Palenque, and Uxmal, and all the Ruins, the Arch and Pediment are wanting. Egypt claims at once the general character of the Architecture, but not sufficient to establish that it is strictly of a National order, as practised on the borders of the Nile;—but, enough is shewn to prove, that a People built those cities in America, who had a knowledge of Egyptian architecture. If Egypt itself had sent the "colony,"—(but from the want of the means of Navigation it was impossible, and also a record would have been found in Herodotus or Diodorus, who wrote of that country about 484, and 44 B. C.:—if it had taken place prior to those periods, their accuracy would have compelled them to notice it)—if, we say, Egypt had sent a "colony," the Temples would have been built like her own in every particular.—Pronaos, Sphinx, and other characteristics,—but these do not appear, or the slightest indication of them;—yet, where the pyramidal structure and obelisk (square-column sculptured) and circular columns are to be found, there Egypt may be traced as having given knowledge to the builders. The Pyramid of Caius Cestius at Rome will illustrate this fact. No one will say that that Pyramid is Roman architecture,—yet no one will deny that the builder had a knowledge of Egypt and her works,—and no Historian would claim Rome to be Egypt, because a Pyramid was found there; so in Mexican America, the Ruins partake of the Egyptian character sufficiently to give the style of the Architectural foundations to that of the Nile,—yet they must have been erected by another Nation;—yet that Nation must be proved to have a knowledge of, and intercourse with, Egypt. What nation of all the earth enjoyed this equal to the Tyrian? They were in weekly intercourse with each other,—exchanging as men their sentiments, and as merchants their merchandise, till one general conquest overwhelmed both countries,—one nation remaining subdued and tributary, and the other dispersed and annihilated.
It is proved (we submit) that the Sculpture in many parts, and especially at Uxmal, partakes of the Grecian character, while the Architecture is that of the Egyptian. This is a nice distinction,—but it enables us to strengthen our belief that Egypt, as a Nation, could not have been the builders, but they must have been a People (we repeat it, to impress it on the mind of the reader) having a knowledge of the Nile and her edifices; to this may be joined, a People having a knowledge, also, of the Greeks, since the Sculpture at Uxmal is Grecian in design. The Tyrians possessed this intercourse;—but, it is possible that some few Greeks may have been of the Colony landing on "the American coast" before the Christian Æra,—that they may have gladly embraced the occasion, as the only means of escaping death at the fearful event which caused the Migration. From the same cause a few Egyptians may have escaped, and joined the colony in the same manner. The strangers on the Island of Tyrus, would probably be those who had arrived by water from a distance,—Egypt was one port of commerce, Ægina another, and ambitious of maritime fame. Ægina is selected for more than one reason. It was an Island in direct intercourse with Tyrus, and the Ægineans were renowned for their general knowledge of the art of ornamental Sculpture, but not on so grand a scale as that of Athens. The Ægineans were called myrmidons, or emmets, from their patient perseverance in the art of Agriculture and other employments,—and thence the Tortoise became their National emblem, the slow but sure progress of that shellfish being a symbol of their industry; it formed a double emblem; viz., of their industry and marine character. Now it will be remembered that the Ruins of Uxmal display four Tortoises in stone Sculpture,—and one was found detached, and buried in the Ruins of Copan.