The American Nations, Vol. I.: Or, Outlines of a National History of the Ancient and Modern Nations of North and South AmericaRafinesque, C. S. (Constantine Samuel)
History
The American Nations, Vol. I.: Or, Outlines of a National History of the Ancient and Modern Nations of North and South America
Rafinesque, C. S. (Constantine Samuel)
Indians; Indians -- Origin; Taino Indians; Taino language
But, above all, we must better study all the spoken languages and
dialects. It is strange that we hardly know anything, and sometimes
nothing at all, on the languages of many existing tribes, with whom we
have intercourse in both Americas. It would be desirable to procure at
least a vocabulary of 100 essential words, in each. Such words, including
the cardinal numbers, will soon become the key of ethnographical
philology. While the additional study of phonology or sounds of languages,
their idioms and grammars, their roots, and verbs, the alphabets, glyphs
and symbols used to communicate ideas, will combine to furnish the
complete knowledge of philology as a separate science. Although I have not
always carried so far my researches; I did so for a few, applying chiefly
myself to the essential features of languages; and the unexpected results
will be surprising.
American anthropography will teach that there were men of all sizes,
features and complexions, in this hemisphere before 1492: notwithstanding
the false assertions of many writers, who take one nation for the whole
American group. The Uskihs, the Puruays, the Parias, the Chons, &c. were
as white as the Spaniards, 50 such tribes were found in South America;
while many tribes of Choco, the Manabis, the Yaruras, &c., were as black
as negroes. All the other shades of brown, tawny and coppery, were
scattered every where. There was not a single red man in America, unless
painted such. Some tribes had scanty beards as the Tartars, Chinese,
Berbers, &c., others bushy beards. The Tinguis or Patagons were 7 or 8
feet high, and the Guaymas only 4 or 5 feet.
6. _Traditions and Annals._ Many American nations preserve a memory of
historical events by unwritten traditions, repeated from fathers to sons;
or communicated orally by the priests, chiefs or elderly men. Many are
preserved yet to this day, by frequent repetitions, being embodied in
songs, hymns, maxims, tales, drawings, or even symbolic figures and signs.
Many of those traditions are precious for history, notwithstanding the
fables, allegories, metaphors, personifications, &c., which partly conceal
them or render the meaning obscure. We must learn to decipher them as we
do old inscriptions and medals.
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