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
_Guaba_ means both _the father_ and _the Guava pear_. The succession of
these _Gionas_ is very obscure; but many are probably omitted, and the
whole poetical records allude to the most famous of the dynasty or nation.
Guanini implies the Golden tribe.
_36th Event._ The settlement of the Guaninis in Hayti was from Matinino
and the east; being exiled from Matinino, they are led by _Camo_ who
begins the kingdom of _Cabonao_ in Hayti; they settle on the river
_Bahaboni_, where they built their houses, and afterwards the great temple
of _Camotzia_. They gave to the island the name of _Quisqueia_ or great
universe; but afterwards _Hayti_, meaning land rough or hilly.
(Dangleria.)
This important event is best given with those details by Dangleria: while
Roman appears to mix it with the settlement of Guanin. Yet _Quisqueia_ was
more probably the first name given to South America, rather than to Hayti:
another name for which was _Bohio_ or habitations. _Camo_ or _Guamo_ means
lord or master, _Tzia_ is temple. The exile of the Guaninis from the
islands, must allude to another revolution and perhaps invasion. This
_Camo_, was probably the same as the _Cami_ or _Coma_ of Cuba in later
time, _Comayagua_ of Honduras; which assimilate the first civilized
Haytians with the tribes of Central America. It might have happened that
these _Camos_ were _Mayas_ and the ancestors of the _Mayo-riexes_. The
history of the Mayas of Otolum, and Central America, will be connected
with these annals hereafter; but much is left for conjecture.
_37th Event._ Other exiles of Matinino settle at the island _Cabini_ now
Turtle island; and near it on the north shore of Hayti, from whence they
spread through the island, which is called _Bouhi_ or _Bohio_, meaning
full of towns.
Dangleria mentions this likewise. House and town or habitation, are
synonymous in Haytian.
_38th Event._ They found some _Caracoles_ or _Taracolas_, crabs! or
beastly men, dwelling in the island. The _Guaninis_ wanting women, took
some Caracols beasts for wives, and made them suitable women, by washing
them, and giving them to eat the fruit _Inriri Cahuvial_. This was done by
a _Vagoniana_ II. These Caracols had then survived the flood or come
before the Guaninis, the name of the fruit that made them women, if
explained, might elucidate this event; but the signification was not
given; another version will suggest other important analogies.(75)
_39th Event._ These Caracols deprived of their women, took other female
beasts for wives (another tribe) and from this union most of the Haytians
descended, becoming _Anaborias_ or vassals of the Guaninis.
_Anaboria_ means flower or lizard of labor! these might be descended from
_Albebora_. This name for bondsmen, boors or laborers, was widely spread
in America, and has affinities all over the world, even with the Latin
labor.(76)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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