We have gathered such evidence as induces a belief that America was, anciently, inhabited with partially civilized and agricultural nations, surpassing in numbers, its present population. This, we imagine, we prove, in the discovery of thousands of the traits of the ancient operations of men over the entire cultivated parts of the continent, in the forms and under the character of mounds and fortifications, abounding particularly in the western regions. We have also ventured conjectures respecting what nations, in some few instances, may have settled here; also what may have become of them. We have entered on an examination of some of those works, and of some of the articles found on opening some few of their tumuli; which we have compared with similar articles found in similar works in various parts of the other continents, from which very curious results are ascertained. As it respects some of the ancient nations who may have found their way hither, we perceive a strong probability, that not only Asiatic nations, very soon after the flood, but that also, all along the different eras of time, different races of men, as Polyneslans, Malays, Australasians, Phoenicians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Israelites, Tartars, Scandinavians, Danes, Norwegians, Welch, and Scotch, have colonized different parts of the continent. We have also attempted to show that America was peopled before the flood; that it was the country of Noah, and the place where the ark was erected. The highly interesting subject of American Antiquities, we are inclined to believe, is but just commencing to be developed. The immensity of country yet beyond the settlements of men, towards the Pacific, is yet to be explored by cultivation, when other evidences, and wider spread, will come to view, affording, perhaps, more definite conclusions. As aids in maturing this volume, we have consulted the works of philosophers, historians, travellers, geographers, and gazetteers, with miscellaneous notices on this subject, as found in the periodicals of the day. The subject has proved as difficult as mysterious; any disorder and inaccuracies, therefore, in point of inferences which we have made, we beg may not become the subjects of the severities of criticism. If, however, we should succeed in awakening a desire to a farther investigation of this curious subject, and should have the singular happiness of securing any degree of public respect, and of giving the subscriber an equivalent for his patronage, the utmost of the desires of the author will be realized. JOSIAH PRIEST. CONTENTS. Page 9 LOCATION of Mount Ararat, 10 Traits of the history of the Chinese before the flood, and their The supposed origin of human complexions, with the ancient Supposed identity and real name of Melchisedec of the Scrip- tures of qualifications for the Jewish priesthood—and of the Division of the earth in the days of Peleg, and of the spread- ing out of the nations from Ararat, with other curious mat- Antiquities of the west, consisting of mounds, tumuli, and for- Ruins of a Roman fort at Marietta, with conjectures how they Discovery of a subterranean cavity of mason work, supposed Ireland known to the Greeks 200 years before Christ, Course of the Ten lost Tribes of Israel, with conjecturés about Traits of the Jews found in Pittsfield, Mass. 67 .... ...... A farther account of the convulsions of the globe, with the re- Of the island Atalantis, of the ancients, supposed to have been ... Great works of the ancient nations at Zanesville, Ohio,. Discovery of a quantity of metallic balls hidden by the an- .... Use of the sling by the ancient nations in America, &c.... .... posed to be of Egyptian origin, with suppositions how they Ancient letters or alphabets of Africa and of America, with a fac simile of their shapes, showing them to be one in origin, 118 A further account of western antiquities, with antediluvian traits, the breaking up of the fountains of the great deep, and of the building of the ark of Noah in America,......... 125 The skeleton of a whale recently found in Virginia, near an 133 Accounts of the bones of the mammoth in the west,..... Vast works of the ancient nations on the east side of the Mus- kingum, with a map of three fortifications as they now appear Ruins of ancient works at Circleville, Ohio,................ Ancient works on Paint Creek, Ohio,... Ancient wells found in the bottom of Paint Creek,... Traits of ancient cities on the Mississippi,.. Tradition of the native Mexicans, respecting their migrations from the north,...........................44. duo2. Id. Traits of the Mosaic history found ainong, the Azteca Indians, with an engraving, which represents men, receiving the languages from a bird, and Noah in his ark,... Ceremonies of the worship of fire as practised by certain In- Traditions of the Florida Indians, that Florida was once in- Ruins of the city of Otolum, in America of Peruvian origin 241 Great stone calendar of the Mexicans, with an engraving,.... 246 Great stone castle of Iceland,. A further account of the evidence of colonies from Europe be- Large quantity of brass found in Scipio in a field once belong- |