rhe © POOR YB! Ry aah 
fore different from the one wé have, which refembles per- 
fe&tly that of Europe. ‘The Indians concur with us in the 
tradition thatit was brought from Europe; but when, and 
by whom, we know not. The bees have generally ex 
tended themfelves into the country, a little in advance of 
the white fettlers. ~ The Indians therefore call them the 
white man’s fly, and confider their approach as indicating 
the approach of the fettlements of the whites*.” 
Dr. Belknap admits that thefe fats, adduced by Mr. 
Jefferfon, are true; “* but: they will not’’, fays he, ** war= 
rant his conclufion that the honey-bee, meaning the one 
refembling that of Europe, is nota native of our conti- 
nentt.” Ifhall examine the grounds of the doétor’s ob= 
yections. , 
On his return to Europe, after having difcovered the 
American iflands, Guanahani, Cuba, Hifpaniola, &c. 
Columbus finding his fhip endangered by a violent 
ftorm, and fearing that the knowledge of thofe 
countries to which he was conducting the nations of Eu- 
rope, was likely to perifh, is faid to have written an ac- 
count of his difeovery on parchment, which he enclofed 
in a cake of wax, and then committed the whale to the 
fea, “in hopes,” to ufe the words of Robertfon, “ that 
fome fortunate accident might preferve a depofit of fo much 
importance to the world{.” ‘This wax Columbus procur-= 
ed in Hifpaniola$. 
A naturalift cannot: but be furprized to find Dr. Belknap 
eonfidering this ftory of the cake of wax as a proof 
* that bees were known in the iflands of the Weft-Indies,” 
when they were difcovered by Columbus, if by the word 
rahe ethees"” 
* See page 121 of the Englifh, and page 79 of the American, edition. 
+ See the Differtation, page 117. 
+ The Hiftory of America. Vol. I. p.126. Bafil: 1790. 8vo. 
§ See the Life of Columbus, written by hisfon, chap. xxx. Columbus alfo mentions this 
Rory of his intrepidity and the cake of wax, ina letter which he wrote to Ferdinand ané@ 
Wabella. See Robertfon’s Hiflory of America. Vol, 1. note xvi, 
