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
The Haytians had besides these songs, other annals; since the priests
taught history, and the origin of things to the sons of the nobles. They
had also perhaps peculiar symbols to keep their records, since Dangleria
mentions that they had paintings of beasts, tygers, eagles &c. on cotton,
hung to walls. St. Mery says that in 1787 was found in the mountains of
Guanaminto a tomb with a stone of 6 feet covered with hieroglyphs! and in
the mountains of Limbé, engravings of human figures on a serpentine rock;
besides many sculptures in Caves. Columbus saw in 1492 in Inagua one of
Lucayes a gold medal _with letters on it_! If we had figures of these
hieroglyphs and engraved symbols, we should probably obtain another clue
to American history and graphic systems. But they are probably lost by
neglect like those of North America! The Antilles being on the way from
the east to the continent must have served as a stepping place to many
nations on their passage to the continent.(63)
1st Part.—_Theogony and Cosmogony._
1. _Fact._ The Supreme God, bears five names or titles given by Roman and
Dangleria in two dialects, and is male or female.
By Roman By Dangleria Meanings
1. Attabei Attabeira Unic-Being.
2. Jemao Mamona Eternal.
3. Guacas or Guaca-rapita Infinite.
Apito
4. Apito or Liella Omnipotent.
Siella
5. Zuimaco Guimazoa Invisible.
Roman calls it female, Dangleria a male God. The titles of this god are
sufficient to indicate the supreme God of nature, and they have
astonishing analogies with the primitive God of Asia and Europe, the
Basks, Pelasgians, Atlantes, Guanches &c. The most common name was the
first, in Cuba _Atabex_. This and other great Gods were not sculptured in
idols. The Chillians had similar names for the Supreme God.(64)
2. _Fact._ This God was father or mother of another great God dwelling in
the sun with a double name, variable in the dialects.
First Name. Second Name.
By Roman Iocahuna Guamaarocon.
By Dangleria Iocauna Guamaonocon.
In Cuba Yocahuna Guamaoxocoti.
In Jamaica Yocahuna ——
In Boriquen Iacana Guamanomocon.
By Oviedo Iovana Guamamona.
Variations Iocavaghama Guamochyna.
The explication of these names is not given; but they are identic with the
gods of the Cantabrians, and Guanches of Canary islands.—The first appears
to be the JEHOVAH and YAO of the Orientals, and is evidently the HUNAKU or
Supreme God of the _Mayas_. The second name means _Lord of the World_
(_Guama-ocon_) and is a title.(65)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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