Peruvian antiquities / by Mariano Edward Rivero and John James von Tschudi ; translated by Francis L. Hawks.
- Mariano Eduardo de Rivero y Ustariz
- Date:
- 1854
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Peruvian antiquities / by Mariano Edward Rivero and John James von Tschudi ; translated by Francis L. Hawks. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![of this hemisphere; but the majority are of opinion that they crossed Persia and the frontiers of China, and came in by the way of Bhering’s Straits. An ingenious author of our times considers the Canaanites as the first inhabitants of America, who, proceeding from Mauritania Tingitana, landed somewhere on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico.* “ Fifteen hundred years after the ex- pulsion of the Canaanites by Joshua, the nine and a half tribes of Israel passed over by the way of Bherings Straits, and like the Goths and Vandals, assaulted that people [the Canaanites]. For a second time, and on another continent, the descendants of Joshua attacked the Canaanites, whose origin they had discovered, and animated by their ancient hatred, they burned their temples and destroyed their gigan- tic towers and cities.” At first view, the proofs produced by different authors in favor of an Israelitish immigration, may seem to be conclu- sive ; but, if closely examined, it will be seen that this hy- pothesis rests on no solid foundation. But it is time to turn to another hypothesis no less interest- ing, and up to this time never thoroughly examined. The author of this is Don Pablo Felix de Cabrera, of Guate- mala, who labors ingeniously and with force to show the re- lations between the Phoenicians and Americans, sustaining his opinions by Mexican hieroglyphic inscriptions. This brilliant hypothesis merits a somewhat extended notice. Don Francisco Nunez de la Vega, bishop of Chiapa, * We meet in ancient history with three places called Mauritania, viz., Mauritania Tingitana, Mauritania Caesariensis, and Mauritania Sitifensis. The first of these was what now constitutes Morocco; itwas called Tingi- tana from Tingis its capital, afterwards corrupted into Tanja^ and finally into Tangier^ its present name. All the three, however, were in the north- ern part of Africa.—[Translator.]](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b24883463_0041.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
