156 ON THE ETYMOLOGY, &C. 



casian tribes, to which the Armenian is allied. Thus it is easy 

 to conceive, how many Asiatic words (a much greater number 

 than is generally supposed) arc still preserved in Britain. They 

 were brought into Britain by the Asiatic colonies; they are still 

 preserved, and will be preserved tor a long time, notwithstand- 

 ing the various admixtures of nations; because languages are the 

 most imperishable of all medals. They are as immortal as the 

 human race. 



The Asiatic origin of the Greeks and the Latins has never 

 been called in question. There are many Latin words in the 

 English language. Some of these, I have no doubt, were in- 

 troduced by the Romans when they conquered and colonized 

 the island. But a much greater number, I suspect, are derived 

 by the ancient inhabitants of Britain from the same tree which 

 supplied the Romans with its fruit. An attention to the follow- 

 ing circumstances will render this not a little probable. 



We find Latin words among many of the rude and other na- 

 tions of Asia, who are not known to have had any communi- 

 cation with the Romans. Some instances of this kind I have 

 painted out in a former part of this letter. But we find Latin 

 words among the Indians of America : and I think there in no 

 good foundation for suspecting, that the Romans had ever visi- 

 ted, much less planted colonies in, America. I will give an 

 instance or two. In the language of the Delawares, Pane is 

 bread. This is almost pure Latin. It is actually pure Italian, 

 Neapolitan, and Spanish. But whence, it has been asked, did 

 the Americans derive this word? Doubtless, from the same 

 tree which, planted in the soil of Asia, has spread its branches, 

 or diffused its fruit, to every region of the earth. In the lan- 

 guage of the Curdes, of Curdistan, Pan is bread. This language 

 is nearly allied to the Persian. Thunberg informs us, that the 

 Japanese verb to bake bread is Pan-jakv. Mow, I have shown, 

 that there are many Curde and Japanese words in the different 

 dialects of America. The same Delawares call a dog, Mc-kanne, 

 which is nearly Latin, but more nearly still Italian and Nea- 

 politan. In this instance, also, we can trace the word to Asia, 

 for different tribes of Semoyads call a dog, Kanang, Kanak, 

 and Konak; and the Karassini call it Kannak, 



