But by far the most elaborate treatise, on this subject, has been written by another countryman of ours; who has undertaken to prove, that the languages spoken in both Americas are radically one, and the same. with those of the various nations, which are known by the general name of Tartars.* It was impolitic in the author, to regret, that he could not make his tables more complete; for it seems to us, that they are already so full as to overturn the hypothesis, which they were designed to support. That a few plausible coincidences have been found, there can be no doubt; * BARTON'S New Views of the Origin of the Tribes and Nations of America. Phil. 1797. but a mere glance of the eye will be sufficient to convince the reader, that, for one resemblance, there are ten disparities. The Tartar languages appear to have a great affinity to each other; but, though the author had the whole scope of Asia and America, it is seldom that any of their languages can furnish him with a parallel. The Indian languages, it is evident, differ more from each other than from those of Tartary; and the fact has been adduced as one proof, that the natives of America are of greater antiquity than those of Asia. This, however, is not the species of refutation, which we intend to adopt. We shall construct a list from the most perfect resemblances; and leave the reader to conclude, from our subsequent observations, whether it can have much weight in the decision of There are a few other resemblances, scattered in various authors, which perhaps it would be hardly fair to omit. In the Japanese, tonus signifies sun, moon, stars; or governors, kings, princes. The Mexicans call the sun tanaticus, and the moon, tona; and, in Hispaniola, the name of taino is given to all persons of noble or princely blood. Motazaiuma is the general appellation of a Japanese monarch; and montezuma performs the same office in Mexico. Ginseng, in both hemispheres, is said to be called by a name, which signifies the thighs of a man;' and it is asserted, that the Mexican teu and tepec, for God and a mountain, have the same meaning in the ancient Turkish. If, among the Tartars, the names of many places end in an, and the names of many princes, in ax, the Mexicans have their Teutillan, Coattan, Hazattan, Petullan; their Stalderax, Almorax, Meubax, Naguatax. d |