90 On the supposed Welch- Indians. 



unknown country, which appeared to him so desira- 

 ble, that he returned to Wales, and carried hither 

 several of his adherents and companions. After this, 

 neither Madog, nor his companions, were ever heard 

 of more." The voyage of Madog is said to have 

 been performed about the year 1170. 



I have not seen Powel's work ; but I learn, that 

 this historian, who lived in the reign of Queen Eliza- 

 beth, and, consequently, at a great distance of time 

 from the event which he records, adduces no better 

 authority in support of the voyage, than a quotation 

 from a Welch poet, " which proves no more, than 

 that he (Madog) had distinguished himself by sea 

 and land*." Some few Welch words, such as 

 givrando, to hearken, or listen, Sec, are very feebly 

 or unfortunately adduced by Powel, as circumstances 

 favourable to the truth of the Welch emigration. 



When we consider, " that the Welch were never 

 a naval people ; that the age in which Madog lived 

 was peculiarly ignorant in navigation ;" that the 

 compass was then unknown ; the story of the voya- 

 ges of the Welch prince must, I think, be consider- 

 ed as extremely improbable. I am of opinion, with 

 Mr. Pennant, that " the most which they could have 

 attempted must have been a mere coasting voyage.'* 



But, it may be said, we must appeal to facts ; and 

 that, independently of the verses of the Welch poet, 



• Pennant's Arctic Zoology. Introduction, p. eclxiii, &.c 



