fit'Pl'OSED WELCH INDIANS, ]$ j 



fubfifts between fome of the American nations and the Jews. Traditional ac- 



_ . . . . ,, count of inhabi- 



Some Hebrew Words were found in this continent, as they tantso f America 



have been every where elfe. The Americans were now faid fuppofedto have 

 to be the defendants of the Jews and Adair laboured very ^yflTs!^ 

 hard to prove the matter in a ponderous quarto which few 

 people read, becaufe it is big with fyftem and extravagance, 

 though, indeed, it contains fome curious and accurate matter. 

 In like manner, in the languages of fome of the American 

 tribes there are found fome words which are a good deal ana- 

 logous to words in the languages of the ancient Celts. Wafer, 

 who was a very refpeclable obferver, if we confider his oc- 

 cupation in life, mentions the coincidence he found between 

 the language of the Indians of Darien and that of the Highland 

 Scots ; and I could produce inftances of their coincidence. 

 Some Greek words are alfo found in certain of the American 

 languages. I would not ftrain a point lb much as fome writers 

 have, who mention the coincidence which fubfifis between 

 the Greek T/uos and the Mexican Teotl. The word Potoiv- 

 mack, which is the name of one of our great rivers, is a good 

 deal like the Greek Potomos*. Thefe words (perhaps they 

 are accidental refemblanees) have given rife to fome of the 

 numerous theories which we have had concerning the peopling 

 of this great continent : and I doubt not that fome * * * * or 

 perfon who underftood the Welch language, finding Celtic 

 words (a language fpoken by the Welch) among the Ame- 

 ricans, in the fulnefs of his zeal would bring his countrymen 

 among the Padoucas, Apaches, &c. 



*' Such, I believe, has been the origin of this wonderful 

 ftory. I prefume, that, were an ignorant Highlander to vifit 

 the Darien Indians, or fome other American tribes, he would 

 fancy himfelf among his countrymen, whom painting, e:>- 

 pofure to the fun, &c. he might fuppo.fe had exalted or de* 

 graded to their prefent tinge. I lately converfed with an old 

 Highlander, who faid, that the Indians fpeak the Highland 

 language. Some Highland words were mentioned by him ; 



* The Abba Molina (in his Compendio de la Hiftoria Civil-del 

 Reyno de Chile, &c. Parte Segunda, p. 334, 335.) has pointed 

 out fome yery ftriking inftances of refemblance between the Greek 

 and Chilefe languages. He has alio pointed out fome refemblance 

 between the Latin and the Chilefe. — February 19, 1805. 



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