Second Testimony, that the Americans are deriv’d from the Phenicians.
First, Diodorus saith, “Beyond Lybia, in the Ocean, lies a very great Island, several days sailing in Circumference, having a very fruitful Soil, and pleasant Meadows, distinguish’d by Hills, and moistned by Navigable Rivers, unknown in Ancient Times, because it seems to be separated from the other World, and was thus found: The Phenicians sailing along the Lybian Coast, were several days and nights toss’d with perpetual Tempests, and at last driven to the foremention’d Island, where Anchoring, and observing the pleasant Scituation thereof, made it known to their Magistrates.”
Is contradicted.
But how comes this nameless Island to be America? What Man would take that for an Island, which far exceeds the main Continent of Asia? And have the Phenicians ascrib’d the finding of this New World to any? Whence then proceeds such great silence amongst all the Ancient Writers of a whole World, who otherwise us’d to give Denominations to the least remote Village, or Mountain, or River?
Lib. 5. cap. 1. Description of Atlas.
Pliny speaks after the same manner, saying, “The Writers make mention, that Atlas rises out of the middle of the Sands, with a Shrubby and Bushy top towards the Sky, on the Shore of the Ocean to which he gives his Denomination; That it is full of Woods, and water’d by several Fountains on that side towards Africa, by which means it bears all manner of Fruit. In the Day-time none of the Inhabitants appear, all things being in silence, as in the middle of a Desart; the Approacher is struck with sudden amazement. And besides its excessive high Crown, reaching above the Clouds, and neighboring, as they say, the Circle of the Moon, appears in the Night as if it were all in a Flame, resounding far and near with Pipes, Trumpets, and Cymbals; and the Journey up thither, very long and dangerous.”
I cannot understand that Pliny can mean America by this, because himself, in the first Division of his Fifth Book, makes his beginning with the Description of Africa: And as to what further concerns the strange Relation and danger thereof, is a little before related in Hanno’s Voyage; and it is but a slight Argument to prove it America, because it seems to resound with those sorts of Instruments which the Americans were observ’d to use when discover’d.
Lib. 1. cap. 4.
Strange Men.
Pomponius Mela being the third, hath no greater Arguments than the former. “We hear (says he) that utmost People towards the West, being the Atlanticans, are rather half Beasts than Men, cloven-footed, without Heads, their Faces upon their Breasts, and naked, with one great Foot, like Satyrs or Goblins, which range up and down, without any Artificial Shelters or Houses.”