174 Mr. Kendal’s account of the Dighton rock. 
the last, on the extreme peculiarity of several of the figures ; a pe- 
culiarity so exclusive, that, were any similar to be found, of which 
the origin was certain, I should without difficulty claim tl.e same ori- 
gin for this inscription. The technical character of the figures con- 
tributes largely to this peculiarity. They have in them nothing of 
calligraphy ; nothing of an universal alphabet. They are the proper- 
ty of some one people, and of no other. The strange configuration 
of the objects having human heads, and the complicate and artificial 
construction of those made up of RS are clearly entitled to this 
character. 
But to what quarter are we to look for this peculiar people ? Shall 
we attribute it to the es follower of the fishery and the chase, or 
to learned ci vigators ? To the ~ mentee of the surrounding 
forests, or to sojoutneeaROnE the ancient seats of arts and civilization? 
I am decidedly of opinion, that this monument is in no respect de- 
rivable from the opposite side of the Atlantic. I discern in it nothing 
of the alphabets, or the drawing, or the taste of Europe, or Asia, or 
Africa ; and my belief on this head has been greatly strengthened by 
the knowledge of a fact, communicated to me by the reverend Mr. 
pee ~~ Salem. This gentleman, in speaking of the writing-rock, 
ofessor Sewall’s visit and draught, lately assured me, that pro- 
fessor Sewall, in reply to a question put by himself, declared to him, that 
he had seen nothing on the rock, which reminded him of any ancient 
alphabet. 
‘Three difficulties present themselves; if we suppose the inscrip* 
tion to be the work of the people knownas the inhabitants of the north 
east coast of America. First, that nothing similar has been describ» 
ed, as existing among them ; secondly, that no disposition to Pr 
duce any thing similar has been observed ; and thirdly, that it 8 
scarcely possible to conceive the execution of this inscription, upo?* 
