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
_44th Event._ Arrival in Hayti, Cuba &c. of the first _Bohito_ (old man),
a priest and legislator, called _Boition_ by Dangleria, meaning both
_Priest-solar_ and Old _Ion_: he introduces agriculture and the use of
bread, divides the nation into 3 castes, _Tainos_, or nobles, _Bohitos_ or
priests, _Anaborias_ or vassals, and these last into tillers, hunters and
fishermen. He becomes pontif, settles the religion; establishing mysteries
and oracles, the worship of Zemis, and many other institutions, holydays,
festivals, religious dances, schools &c., declaring the land common to
all, like the sun and water.
There are at least 3 Bohitos, that came to Hayti and Cuba, and civilized
the people; but it is difficult to distinguish the deeds of each. They
were probably priests leading more civilized colonies from the east or
from America. Their name which is variously spelt or varies in dialects
was also _Buhuti_, _Boitio_, _Bauti_, _Buhui_, _Boyeto_ &c., is akin to
the _Boyez_, _Poyes_, _Piazes_, _Payes_ of South America, used by the
Aruacs, Guaranis and Carib tribes, _Piaches_ of Tamanacs, _Bauti_ of
Dabaiba, _Papas_ of Central America, _Bochica_ of Muyzcas; but the names
of priests all over ancient eastern nations, have still more
analogies(79)—and therefore they came from the east. The civilization and
religion introduced or improved by them is also oriental; it was more
advanced than we are aware; since they had ample fields and orchards,
roads and canals, schools in which they taught history, religion, medicine
and useful arts. Of their astronomy nothing has been preserved, nor of
their hieroglyphs.
_45th Event._ Bohito II. or _Buhui-tihu_ (old eminent) comes and improves
still further the rites &c., becoming high-priest. He introduces
medicines, charms, the use of cotton and cloth, burning of bodies instead
of mummies as formerly, the holy herbs _Gueyo_ and _Zochen &c._
This is all what can be collected on this second law-giver, and he is even
blended with the next, except by name.
_46th Event._ Bohito III. or _Baio-habao_ (sea-lyre) comes next,
introducing music, sacred instruments called after him, and probably the
rites of the triple named god of the Hindu and Mayan trimurti: _Bugia_,
_Aiba_ and _Bradama_: who became the Zemi of war, or perhaps led to a war.
This god with three names is evidently Vishnu, Shiba and Brama of India:
found in Yucatan as _Izona_, _Echuah_ and _Bacab_. See my dissertation in
Atlantic Journal, on similar names of triple God all over America and the
east. It does not follow that this worship came direct from India; but it
might come through the Pelagians, who had it as _Bram_, _Amen_ and _Vix_,
inverted among the Ausonians, Oscans. The same about a god creator
preserver and destroyer was prevalent in Asia, Iran, Thibet, Syria, Egypt,
Greece, Etruria, and even the Canary islands. The Mayoriex came probably
with Bohito III.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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