PROBABLE WAY OF PEOPLING THE INDIES. 09 



opinion, see well if the entries of the River Euphrates LlB - I&amp;gt; 

 stretch to the Indies, and whether it be necessary for the 

 Indies to repasse that way, as it is written. Besides, I 

 know not how you can name them peaceable, seeing they 

 be alwaies in warre amongst themselves. To conclude, I 

 cannot see how that Euphrates in Esdras Apocrypha should 

 be a more convenient passage to goe to the new world, 

 then the inchanted and fabulous Atlantis Hand of Plato. 



CHAP. xxiv. The reason why we can find no beginning of the 



Indians. 



It is easier to refute and contradict the false opinions 

 conceyved of the Originall of the Indians, then to set 

 downe a true and certaine resolution ; for that there is no 

 writing among the Indians, nor any certaine remembrances 

 of their founders; neyther is there any mention made of 

 this new world in their bookes that have knowledge of 

 letters ; our Ancients held, that in those parts, there were 

 neyther men, land, nor haven. So as hee should seeme rash 

 and presumptuous, that should thinke to discover the first 

 beginning of the Indians. But we may iudge a farre off, 

 by the former discourse, that these Indians came by little 

 and little to this newe world, and that by the helpe and 

 meanes of the neerenesse of lands, or by some navigation ; 

 the which seemes to mee the meanes whereby they came, 

 and not that they prepared any armie to goe thither of 

 purpose; neyther that they have been caried thither by 

 any ship-wracke or tempest, although some of these things 

 may chance in some part of the Indies ; for these Regions 

 being so great, as they containe Nations without number, 

 we may beleeve, that some came to inhabite after one sort, 

 and some after an other. But in the ende I resolve vpon 

 this point, that the true and principall cause to people the 



