On the supposed Welch -Indians. 95 



rivers, is a good deal like the Greek Potomos*. 

 These words (perhaps, they are accidental resemblan- 

 ces) have given rise to some of the numerous theories 

 which we have had concerning the peopling of this 

 great continent ; and I doubt not, that some * * * *, 

 or person who understood the Welch language, find- 

 ing Celtic words (a language spoken by the Welch) 

 among the Americans, in the fulness of his zeal, 

 would bring his countrymen among Padoucas, Apa- 

 ches, &.c. 



" Such, I believe, has been the origin of this won- 

 derful story. I presume, that were an ignorant 

 Highlander to visit the Darien- Indians, or some other 

 American tribes, he would fancy himself among 

 his countrymen, whom painting, exposure to the 

 sun, &c, he might suppose, had exalted, or degrad- 

 ed, to their present tinge. I lately conversed with an 

 old Highlander, who said, that the Indians speak the 

 Highland language. Some Highland words were 

 mentioned by him ; * * * * one word * * * * I 

 recollect ; the word Teine, which in the Hi gland lan- 

 guage, he said, signified fire : now our Delaware- 

 Indians call fire Tindey: the resemblance, in sound, 

 is, certainly, not small. The Celts have, undoubt- 

 edly, been very widely spread over the globe : I be- 

 lieve, they existed in this country, and that their des- 



* The Abbe Molina (in his Comfiendio dc la Historia Civil del 

 Reyno de Chile, Sec, Parte Segunda, p. 334, 335) has pointed out 

 some very striking instances of resemblance between the Greek 

 and Chilese languages. He has also pointed out some resem- 

 blances between the Latin and the Chilese — February 19th, ISO J. 



