( 32 ) 



perfect refemblance between them and the Brazili- 

 ans. Even this would be of great importance, were 

 we to conflder the invincible attachment of the 

 former to that ' ceremony. But there are many 

 other points equally effential, wherein the two na- 

 tions differ. I can fafely affirm, that this pretend- 

 ed refemblance, which appears fo (hiking to the 

 Portuguefe hiftorian, is at beft a falfe fhow, which 

 feizes one at the firft glance, but difappears, when 

 looked into more narrowly and without prejudice. 



John de Laet having, in a fatisfaclory manner, 

 refuted what opinions had been advanced before his 

 time, but not having been equally fuccefsful in 

 eftablifhing his own, George de Hornn, a learned 

 Dutchman, entered the lifts, which he did with the 

 greater confidence, as he believed he fhould draw 

 great advantages from the new difcoveries his coun- 

 trymen and the Englim had lately made in the 

 northern parts of Alia, Europe, and America. 



After relating every thing that has been imagined 

 on the fubjecl: he undertakes to handle, that is to 

 fay, all that is found in father Garcia and Solor- 

 zano, he fets in the ftrongeft light the difficulty of 

 determining this queftion ; a difficulty occaftoned 

 by the imperfect knowledge we have of the extre- 

 mities of the globe towards the North and South, 

 and the havock which the Spaniards, the firfb dif- 

 coverers of the New World, made amongft it* 

 mo ft ancient monuments ; as witnefs the great 

 double road between Quito and Cuzeo ; fuch an 

 undertaking, as the Romans have executed nothing 

 that can be compared to it. However, he is not 

 afraid to promife himfelf a happy conclufion to his 

 enquiries, and condemns father Acofta for too haf- 

 tily determining, that no one can engage to fucceed 



