[7] The essay here alluded to, was the reply of Mr. Jomard to a note addressed to him by Mr. Eugene Vail, in 1839, announcing the discovery of the inscribed tablet in the Grave-creek mound, and requesting his opinion in relation to it. In this reply, Mr. Jomard stated that they were of the same character with the inscriptions found by Major Denham in the interior of Africa, as well as in Algiers and Tunis. This note was inserted in Mr. Vail's work entitled "_Notice sur les Indiens de l'Amerique du Nord_." Paris, 1840. This work is scarcely known in the United States. [8] I am aware that many believe the sculptures on the Dighton rock to contain several alphabetic characters. Prof. Rafn in his learned and ingenious memoir on this inscription, supports this view. In fact, Mr. Jomard himself hints at their Phoenician origin. [9] Histoire Naturelle des Canaries. Tom. I. p. 23 [10] Scenes in the Rocky Mountains, Oregon, California, &c., by a New Englander. p. 198. [11] Scenes in the Rocky Mountains, California, &c. by a New Englander. p. 180. [12] Auburn (New York) Banner, 1837. [13] Political Essay on New Spain. Vol. 2, p. 315. (London ed. in 4 vols. 8vo.) [14] Life and Travels in California. p. 372. [15] Dr. Lyman states, that "in the autumn of 1841, an American trader with thirty-five men, went from Bents fort to the Navijo country, built a breastwork with his bales of goods, and informed the astonished Indians, that he had 'come into their country to trade or fight, which ever they preferred.' The campaigns of the old trappers were too fresh in their memory to allow hesitation. They chose to trade, and soon commenced a brisk business." [16] Humboldt's Political Essay on New Spain. Vol. 2, p. 316. On the testimony of the missionaries of the _Collegio de Queretaro_, versed in the Aztec language, M. Humboldt states, that the language spoken by the Moqui Indians is essentially different from the Mexican language. In the seventeenth century, missionaries were established among the Moquis and Navijos, who were massacred in the great revolt of the Indians in 1680. [17] Clavigero, Hist. Mexico. Vol. 1, p. 151. Humboldt's Polit. Essay on New Spain, Vol. 2. p. 300. A more detailed account of these remains, may be found in the Appendix to Castaneda's "_Relation du Voyage de Cibola en 1540_," published in the "_Relations et memoirs originaux_" of Ternaux-Compans. The state of the country, the manners and customs of the Indians, and their peculiar state of civilization are given at length, and are interesting in this enquiry. The notice of the "_Grande Maison, dite de Moctezuma_," is extracted from the journal of Father Pedro Font, who traversed this country to Monterey, on the Pacific, in 1775. [18] Report to the Royal Geographical Society, London, Nov. 9, 1846. [19] Nouvelles Annales des Voyages. Feb. 1846. p. 146. [20] London Athenæum, Aug. 8, 1846, in which is a condensed account of this journey.