Page:Essays ethnological and linguistic.djvu/239

Rh this subject, but Bradford (American Antiquities p. 201) referring to the Mayas, says, without giving his authority, "their great legislator Zamna, like Quetzalcoalt appeared from the east."

Thus the traditions of the country as far as they go support the views here advocated; which I will now proceed to explain more in detail. I do not intend to say that it is probable that frequent voyages were made in ancient times to America, or that any great commerce was carried on, but that voyages were made to America, and a tolerably accurate knowledge of the country was obtained, by the Phœnicians or Carthaginians, and perhaps by both people. The discovery may very probably have been first made by accident, as it was subsequently by the Northmen, and according to Garcillaso de la Vega by the shipmaster from whom Columbus obtained the information which induced him to set his enterprise on foot; and the fact was kept as secret as possible.

Some small colonies were probably planted, but being in many instances seamen the colonists were not qualified to teach in any high degree the arts of civilized life. The people among whom they settled, the Mayas, are a docile race and would therefore be likely to receive favourably the instruction of foreign settlers. Nearly 2000 years must have elapsed between the arrival of the last colony from Carthage and the discovery by Columbus. In this interval great vicissitudes had befallen every country in the old world, and similar events must also be supposed to have taken place in America. Supposing then the original colonists to have been almost entirely men, who had formed marriages with the women of the country, it is not surprising that few if any linguistic affinities are to be found; and that the resemblances to be found in their buildings and customs are only such as can be accounted for on these grounds. The descendants of the Carthaginian settlers may have been exterminated in war, for we find evident traces of a people similar to the North American Indians in Central America, their symbol, the small red hand, is impressed on the ancient buildings, and their form of sepulture is frequently met with.

Thus the edifices and monuments of later date may be expected to be of very inferior workmanship. It is not reasonable to consider the different ruins as of one and the same age, and I should on the above grounds consider the best constructed to be of the greatest antiquity, but the country has been so slightly explored that it is not possible to classify them in a manner at all satisfactory.