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CKap. II AMERICA, 



f* any validity to derive therti from China ? But the contrary is moft apparent, 

 « for the Peruvians worfliip for their chief God^racoci^that is, God Almighty, or 

 €€ Tl?e Creator of all things. 



u The Chinefes, if Confutius an eye-witriefs. may be credited, are divided into 

 '< three Se<5ts of Religion : The firft follow the Learn'd Trigantius, and acknow- 

 €C ledge a King of the Heavens, which muft onely be ferv'd as the Chinefes lole 

 *< Governor ^ to which purpoCe, two Temples are built in the Royal Cities 

 " Nankin and Pekin , one Conf^crate to Heaven, and the other to the Earth. 

 " The fecond Se& hath the. name ofSciequia, and ferve the Idol Omyto. The 

 €t third nam'd Lan%p, imploy themfelves in Magick and Exorcifms , Conju- 

 €i ring up, and laying EviUSpirits,, whofe horrid reprefentatiqns, when they 

 H have ftiick upon the Walls , they make an artificial and dreadful noife, as if 

 4C Hell were broke loofe, and theHoufe full of Devils ; fometimes alfo force 

 *f'the Evil-Spirits to enter into Images , from whence they receive no impcr* 

 €C tinent anfwers to their queftions: Therefore, who will compare this Su- 

 *i perflation of the Peruvians worfhipping of the Sun ? to the Qrinefe Religion, 

 y which do no fuch things ? 



" The Peruvians call'd their King, A tori of the fyalm, and not The Son ofthi 

 5f Siw/as in China t Though the Mexicans o^herwife worfhip the Sun, and in their 

 ff manner of adulation, ftyl'd Hernando (orte^ their Conqueror, Son of the Sdn i 

 €C As to what concerns the manner of writing, it is very well known, that the 

 fc Chinefes words are all Monofyllablcs , fo that they have as many Letters a$ 

 " Words, which they joyn fo together, that they reckon eighty thoufand, 

 *< but with ten thoufand they are able to exprefs themfelves in moft matters. 

 "Thefe Chara&ers are contahVd in their Halpien or Dictionary. The antient Embafly to the ciam, 

 €i Chinefes us'd feventeen feveral forts of Characters in their writing, fome con* 

 " lifting of Serpents, that by feveral Wreathes and contortious Windings, fig- 

 k <c nify'd feveral things; others, of all forts of agreftick Tools belonging to 

 €i Husbandry >, fome Characters of the Feathers of the Bird Funuhoar^ others of 

 cc Oyfter,s and Worms, or of Roots, of Herbs, or Birds Claws, or of Turtles, 

 <f or of Herbs and Birds Feathers mingled, or of Planets, and fuch like 5 but 

 u what manner of Writing or Hieroglyphick of theirs refembles thole, 

 who by their own teftimony know neither Pen, l?aper, Ink, nor any manner 

 of Writing , but reckon the antiquity of time by ftrung Beads , whicli 

 was obferv'd many ages fincc among feveral Nations, 

 Hitherto we have difcover'd the feveral Opinions concerning the Original of v % tl % n ^ lhc *""'""* 

 the Americans, or firft Plantation of -America, from all which, having received no 

 clear or demonftrative fatisfa&ion, we muft open our way to a further fcrutiny: 

 But firft,we muft needs confefs,that contradi&ion is not difficult- but it is fome* 

 thing of Work , when we have beaten dovvn a well-fortifi'd Opinion , to fct 

 up fomewhat in Head thereof, to ftand a permanent and undeniable truth, 

 which will be the harder , in regard the Inhabitants of this neW World have 

 no old Chronologies concerning their Antiquities, and firft fettling there ; yet 

 if we cannot go fo far abfolutely to aflert, yet fome probabilities,grounded (as 

 we fuppofej upon better reafons, may give more fatisfa&ion j for none will ce^Theoi^^ 11 ^" 011 " 

 deny, but that the Generations of Mankind being ftrangely multiply'd after 

 the Flood , they then living five times our Ages, and Wats not beginning till 

 the known part of the Earth was over*ftock'd, juftling for Territories, and 

 fome thruft quite out, at laft found America • which fpreading it felf to a vaft 

 extent, and now found almoft every where well inhabited, may be guefs'd, 



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