u 



AMERICA. 



Chip.IL 





Voyage/, i. c. 8. 



The time when America 

 Was firft Peopled. 



The condition of the firft 

 World after the FloucU 



' * 



from their old Plantations, and feek for new ? or if any one fhould be yet 

 more curious, asking the way that directed them out of another Countrey to 

 this New World ? or elfe enquire for thofe People, from whom the Americans 

 dcriv'd themfelves ? He will find feveral Opinions , and the Learned ftill 

 Jangling. 



The firft Doubt is concerning the time : Mr. Turchas, where-ever he had the 

 Hint, endeavors to prove-, that America hath been but lately Planted ; for which 

 he thus argues, i€ That if Ajia, or Europe furnifh'd America with People in Abra- 

 " bams time , or at leaft before the Birth of our Saviour . then it muft upon 

 a neceifity, by the Expiration of fo many Ages, have been much more Popu- 

 Ci lous, then the Spaniards found when firft they difcover'd it. Befides, the vaft 

 " Territories yet unhabited (fays he) are fufficient teftimonies, that this New 

 ic World hath been Planted but fcatteringly, and not many Ages fincc, elfe 

 H the Countrey would have more abounded with Inhabitants, becauie the fer- 

 c< tility of the Soyi was able plentifully to maintain Millions more, then were 

 tl there when firft difcover'd : And what Marks are better to know anew Peo- 

 €C pie by, in any Countrey , than a rude Life and unfettled Government ? juft 

 l€ like a Family removing to another Houfe,which takes no fliort time to fettle 

 " their Goods and Houfhold-ftuffin a handfome and convenient Order. 



" When TS^pab went out of the Ark on Mount Ararat ', and not long after, faw 

 u his Seed fpread over Armenia and Jjfyria , the new Generation of People con- 

 u lifted in Shepherds and Husbandmen , that fetled themfelves neat^ Lakes and 

 " Rivers. Villages, Cities (and much lefs) whole Kingdoms,were fcarce found 

 <c on the Face of the Earth, and as little of Trade or CommerceiRicheSjDivifiori 

 " of Lands,coftly Garments and Furniture for Houfes,were not then in ufe,buc 

 "the works of long fettlements in happy Peace. To curb growing- Wickednefs, 

 "and the Pride of Libertines, who incroach'd upon their weaker Neighbors, 

 <c Laws were invented , by which Bridle, the unbroke or wild World grew 

 " tamer : And firft, the Affyrians were brought to endure the Bit,and anfwer the 

 <£ Reins of Government ; then £gjipf,ncxt Greece, and after that the Romans, who 

 " fpreading their Power by Arms and Martial Difcipline , firft civiliz'd the 

 " Gauls, Spain, Urittain, and laftly Germany. 



" But becaufe a Countrey or Paftoral Life,knowing no Commerce,but mean 

 a Hovels, and to dwell in Huts, priding in poor and no Habits , defpifing all 

 " greatnefs, unlimited by Laws, and all things elfe, (which the People obferv'd 

 " prefently after the Flood) is now found among the Americans , who will take 

 " them for ought elfe, but new Comers to that Land, as themfelves acknow- 

 " ledge > For the Mexicans boaft, that they are the eldeft there , and that from 

 " them, <Peru, Chili, Chtka, and other Countreys towards the South, had their 

 " Colonies, and yet the oldeft Chronicles of Mexico reckon not above a thou* 

 " fand Years. Thus far Mr. Purcbas. 



But certainly , all this Muftcr of appearing Reafons , is not able to van* 



quifli fingle Truth ; For, grant that America was not very Populous when the 



**rf f *wasFeupfcd**: Spaniards firft arrived there ; muft this needs prove , that it was never well in- 



tiy Ages ago. * ' Z 



habited before ? Perhaps the Civil Wars, which have been always deftructive 

 to this Nation, have much hindred the increaft of People 3 and the more, be- 

 caufe their Salvage Nature is fuch, that in feveral places they account Man's 

 Flefti Broil'd a very great Dainty. And fuppofe fuch Prodigal Excels of their 

 Humane Bankets were not us'd in America, as indeed they arc, Is it wonder, that 

 fuch a great part of the World, not oncly exceeding Europe in bignefs, but Ajia 



alfo- 



Furchas contradicted. 



