Part 1 (1/2)
America Discovered by the Welsh in 1170 A.D.
by Benjamin Franklin Bowen.
PREFACE.
Some time since, J. Sabin, the well-known book antiquarian of New York, related a very amusing story to me of a clergyman from Rhode Island coming into his store and inquiring whether he wished to purchase an Indian Bible. At once Mr. Sabin replied that he did, and that he would pay him five hundred dollars for it. The clergyman was delighted, returned to his home in Rhode Island, and, fearing to intrust so costly a relic to the express, determined to carry it himself to the city. With great eagerness he opened the book in Mr. Sabin's presence, when the latter, equally surprised and amused, exclaimed,--
”Why, sir, that's not an Indian Bible!”
”Not an Indian Bible!”
”Why, no, sir!”
The clergyman at first thought the antiquarian was quizzing him, but, seeing him so serious, asked,--
”Well, Mr. Sabin, what makes you think so?”
”Because it is a _Welsh_ Bible.”
The clergyman hastily picked up the volume and disappeared.
The two languages bear a marked resemblance to each other. In the cla.s.sification of the letters, the consonants in particular, including the gutturals, palatals, dentals, and l.a.b.i.als, with their forms and mutations, hold such an ident.i.ty in sound that any person not familiar with either language might take them to be the same, while he who understood both would as readily allow that in many respects they were akin.
The following pages are the result of an earnest desire to settle the question of, and, if possible, to fix the belief in, the voyages of Prince Madoc and his followers in 1170 A.D., and to a.s.sign them their rightful place in American history. Although this recognition has been very tardily given, by the almost utter silence of our historians, and the apparent unconcern of those linked with the Prince by blood, language, and country, the honor will be none the less real if bestowed now. Indeed, in this age of claims, and when every sc.r.a.p of our general and local history is eagerly sought and read, it cannot be otherwise than that what is set forth in his favor will receive some share of attention from an intelligent public. Besides, so much earnest study has been given by those in other countries to the subject of the early discoveries on the American Continent, that it is hoped this contribution to its literature will serve to foster still further the spirit of inquiry, and be at the same time an acknowledgment of our debt to those countries for what they have furnished us in brain, heart, muscle, and life.
At intervals extending through several years, when released from the pressure of my public work, I have been engaged in the collection of the materials, both at home and abroad, from old ma.n.u.scripts, books, pamphlets, magazines, and papers. The subject was not common, neither were the materials. What are the facts? That is the question. Facts of history, experience, observation. Speculative verbiage is avoided, for want of time and s.p.a.ce. Others are made to take my place, for the sake of presenting what _they knew_. Such a method is more convincing than the expression of empty opinions.
B. F. B.
CHAPTER I.
THE MIGRATIONS OF THE WELSH.
The etymology of the names of persons, places, and things is a curious subject of inquiry. It is one of the safest guides in an attempt to distinguish the race-differences of a people whose history reaches back to an immemorial era.
The names of _Wales_ and the _Welsh_ are comparatively of recent origin.
The Welsh have always called themselves Cymru or Cymry,--Romanized into Cambria or Cambrians. This has been the generic name of the race as far back as any trace can be found of their existence. The Romans changed Gal into Gaul; the Welsh sound _u_ as _e_: hence they p.r.o.nounced the Romanized word Gaul as Gael. The Saxons, as was their wont, subst.i.tuted _w_ for _g_: hence, as the people of Cambria were esteemed to be a.n.a.logous to the Gauls, they called their country Waels or Wales, and its people Waelsh or Welsh; and these names have continued to the present time. But this people always have called themselves ”Y Cymry,”
of which the strictly literal meaning is _aborigines_. They call their language ”Y Cymraeg,”--the primitive tongue. Celt, meaning a covert or shelter, and Gaul, meaning an open plain or country, are terms applied to various subdivisions by which the Cymric race have been known. In this connection it may be appropriate to say that the word ”Indian” is one that does not apply or belong to the red race of the American Continent, but was used by Columbus, who, anxious to discover the East Indies by a northwest route, imagined that he had reached that country, and called the inhabitants Indians. Subsequent events have proved his mistake. The primitive races of this continent are more properly designated by the word aborigines, as in the case of the Cymry.
Through the rich and copious language and literature of Wales, the student of history is able to gather a vast store of knowledge respecting its inhabitants and their early ancestors. The substantial result arrived at as to their origin and migrations may be briefly stated as follows:
First. That the inhabitants of Wales, known to Homer as the Cimmerii, migrated thither from the great fountain-head of nations,--the land of the Euphrates and Tigris.
Second. That they went in successive bands, each in a more advanced state of civilization than the former.