Lib. 3. cap. 18.
Discourse between Midas and Silenus concerning the Unknown World.
Lastly, Ælian seems to say something, when he sets down the Discourse between Midas and Silenus, out of Theopompus, where Silenus relates, “That Europe, Asia, and Lybia are Islands; and that a vast Countrey lyes beyond this his tripple-divided World, mighty Populous, and abounding with all other Living Creatures, as big again as ours, and living twice as long: That they are wondrous rich; their Religions, Laws, and Customs, founded upon another Morality and Reason, quite different from ours. They boast especially of two great Cities, Machimus and Eusebes; the Inhabitants of the first maintaining themselves by driving altogether a Trade of War, mustering up, and filling their numerous Regiments with several valiant Nations. The Listed Citizens amount in their Muster-Rolls, all bred to Soldiery, to two Millions, of whom few but scorn either dying bravely by Wounds receiv’d With Flint-edg’d Laths, and Staves, in stead of Spears, pointed with Stones, not knowing the use of Iron or Steel, but so over-stock’d with Gold and Silver, that they account it a Drug of less Value than our basest Metal. Some Years since they march’d into our World, a hundred thousand strong, as far as the Hyperborean Mountains, where being inform’d, that all the Nations of our World, compar’d with them, liv’d in a poor and despicable condition; as not thinking them worth their Conquest, they return’d. But the second City Eusebes, deals altogether in Peace, and its Citizens are not rapacious, but exercise Justice, so much affecting Morality and Divine Worship, that they conquer Heaven by their Piety and Meekness, and the Gods themselves are pleas’d to descend, and advise with them concerning their Celestial Affairs.”
Who observes not this to be a Poetical Relation, shewing how much better the Acquirements of Peace are, than those of War; the one conquering only Men, the other, the Gods? Nor can more be taken out of Ælian’s Discourse, but that the Ancients believ’d there was another Habitable World to be our Antipodes.
Inquiries whether the Constitutions of the Phenicians agree with the Americans.
Thus far hath been disputed concerning the Original of the Americans, whose Plantations from Tyre or Carthage by Sea, are found altogether invalid: Yet we will search a little further, to see whether the People Analogize, either in their Religion, Policy, Oeconomy, or Customs.
It is certain, that the ancient Phenicians liv’d in Tents, and sometimes exchang’d eaten-up Pastures for fresh, which the Americans to this day observe; by which it might appear, that they are of a Phenician Extract. But why not as well deriv’d from Numidia, Tartary, or the ancient Patriarchs, who all liv’d such an unsettl’d wandering Life? Besides, the Phenicians had a long time given over Pastoral Business, for Maritime Affairs of greater consequence, not only Merchandizing through all the World, but sending great Colonies in Ships to new Plantations: And moreover, the Americans could not so strangely degenerate from their Ancestors, but would have built great Cities like them; of which many were found in Phenicia, but none of Antiquity in America.
As also both their Religions.
As to their Religion, if it agreed with the Phenicians, it was the same that all the World profess’d at that time, and therefore may as well be extracted from any other, as them: ’Tis true, we find them inclin’d to Sorcery, and dealing with Evil Spirits, as the Phenicians, in which they were not only guilty, but all other Nations at that time.
The Known World formerly full of Witches.