University of California Berkeley THE "MANUSCRIPT FOUND. MANUSCRIPT STORY, BY Rev. Solomon Spaulding, DECEASED. Printed from a Verbatim Copy, made (expressly for this edition) from the Original, now in the possession of President James H. Fairchild, of Oberlin College, Ohio. SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, THE DESERET NEWS COMPANY, PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS. 1886. ary PUBLISHERS' PREFACE. the last fifty years the " Manuscript Found" has been the staple stock in trade of almost every objector to the genuineness of the Book of Mormon. When every other imaginable theory and hypothesis were overthrown, this reputed romance was the unfailing refuge to which they fled. It could not be found, so their baseless assertions could not be disproved by an appeal to itself. But unfortunately for all such who make lies their refuge, this long-lost treasure has, at last, most unexpectedly to all parties, been brought to light, and is now given to the world with all its inanities, absurd- ities and inaccuracies. After carefully perusing both books, we believe we can truthfully assert that there is not one sen- tence, one incident, or one proper name common to both, and that the oft boasted similarity in matter and nomenclature is utterly false. No two books could be more unlike; in fact Mr. Spaulding's "Manuscript Story" no more resembles the Book of Mormon than " Gulliver's Travels " is like the Gospel of St. Matthew. The history of the discovery of the Manuscript can be told in a few words. D. P. Hurlbut, an apostate, the originator of the fabrication that the Book of Mormon originated in Mr. Spaulding's tale, wrote a bitter assault on the Latter-day Saints in 1836, entitled " Mormonism Unveiled," which was published in the name of, and by E. D. Howe, of Painesville, Ohio. During the time Hurlbut was gathering material for this work, he obtained from the family of the then deceased clergyman the original of the "Manuscript Story," but dis- covering that it would, if published, prove fatal to his assump- tions, he suppressed it; and from that time it was entirely lost sight of until about two years ago, when a Mr. L. L. Rice, iv PUBLISHERS' PREFACE. residing at Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, found it among a numerous collection of miscellaneous papers which he had received from Mr. Howe, the publisher of Hurlbut's " Mormon- ism Unveiled," when in 1839-40, he, with his partner, pur- chased from that gentleman the business, etc., of the Painesville Telegraph. In 1884 President James H. Fairchild, of Oberlin College, Ohio, was paying a visit to Mr. Rice, and he suggested that the latter look through his numerous papers, in the hope of finding amongst them some anti-slavery documents of value. In his search he discovered a package marked in pencil on the outside, " Manuscript Story Conneaut Creek," which, to their surprise, on perusal, proved to be the veritable, long-lost romance of Dr. Spaulding, to which so much undeserved importance had been ignorantly or maliciously given. After retaining the manuscript some time Mr. Rice presented it to Oberlin College, but before doing so, made an exact copy, with all its pecularities of style, errors of grammar and orthog- raphy, alterations, erasures, etc., which copy he placed in our hands with the distinct understanding that it should be printed and published exactly as he had copied it. We have endeavored to faithfully carry out our part of the agreement, and now present to the world this wishy-washy production, with all its peculiarities of spelling and grammar, whose only conceivable value is that it utterly dispels and demolishes a long existing error, and compels those who will not acknowledge the divinity of the Book of Mormon to seek in other directions plausible excuses for rejecting its truths. Those portions of the work altered or erased by Mr. Spaulding have, in the following pages, been printed in italics and between brackets. THE "MANUSCRIPT FOUND." MANUSCRIPT STORY. INTRODUCTION Near the west Bank of the Coneaught River there are the remains of an ancient fort. As I was walking and forming various conjectures respecting the character situation and numbers of those people who far exceeded the present race of Indians in works of art & inginuety I hapned to tread on a flat Stone. This was at a small distance from the fort : & it lay on the top of a small mound of Earth exactly horizontal The face of it had a singular appearance I discovered a number of characters which appeared to me to be letters but so much effaced by the ravages of time, that I could not read the inscription. With the assistance of a leaver I raised the Stone But you may easily conjecture my astonishment when I discovered that its ends and sides rested on Stones & that it was designed as a cover to an artificial cave. I found on ex- amining that its Sides were lined with * * * built in a connical form with * * * down & that it was about eight feet deep Determined to investigate the design of this extraordinary work of antiquity I prepared myself with necessary requisites for that purpose and decended to the Bottom of the cave Observing one side to be perpendicular 2 THE nearly three feet from the bottom, I began to inspect that part with accuracy ; Here I noticed a big flat Stone fixed in the form of a doar, I immediately tore it down & Lo a cavity within the wall presented itself it being about three feet in diameter from side to side and about two feet high Within this cavity I found an earthan Box with a cover which shut it perfectly tite The Box was two feet in length one & half in breadth & one and three inches in diameter. My mind filled with awful sensations which crowded fast upon me would hardly permit my hands to remove this venerable deposit but curiosity soon gained the ascendancy & the box was taken & raised to open * * * When I had removed the cover I found that it contained twenty eight sheets of parchment. & that when ****** appeared to be manuscripts written in an eligant hand with Roman Letters & in the Latin Language They were written on a variety of Subjects. But the Roll which principally attracted my attention contained a history of the authors life & that part of America which extends along tho great Lakes & the waters of the Missisippy. Extracts of the most interesting and important matters contined in' this Roll I take the liberty to publish [Gentle Reader tread lightly on the ashes of the venerable dead Thou must know that this Country was once inhabited by 'great & powerful nations considerably civilized & skilled in the arts of ivar, and that on ground where thou now treadest many [o.n hard fou] a bloody Battle hath been f aught & heroes by the thousand [have been"] made to bite the dust. In the history given of these nations by my Author you will find nothing but what will correspond with the natural sentiments ir '. should form on viewing the innumerable remains of Antiquity which are scattered over an extensive Country. This is an evidence of the authors impartiality and veracity. But if any should pre- tend that the whole story is fictitious or fabulous^ To publish a translation of every particular circumstance THE "MANUSCRIPT FOUND." mentioned by our author would produce a volume too ex- pensive for the general class of readers. But should this attempt to throw off the vail which has secluded our view from the transactions of nations who, for ages have been extinct, meet the approbation of the public, I shall then be happy to gratify the more inquisitive & learned part of my readers by a more minute publication. Apprehensive that sceptical, illiberal or supersticious minds may ceDSure this performance with great accrimony I have only to remark that they will be deprived of a great fund of entertainment which those of a contrary disposition will obtain. My compassion will be excited more than my resentment and there the contest will end. Now Gentle Header the Translator who wishes well to thy present & thy future existence entreats the to peruse this volume with a clear head a pure heart & a candid mind If thou shalt that thy head & thy heart are both improved it will afford him more satisfaction than the approbation of ten thousand who have received no benefit. [-4?wZ now permit me to admonish thee that if thou shouldst reside in or travel thro' any part of the Country^ CHAPT I An Epitomy of the Authors life & of his arival in America As it is possible that in some future age this part of the Earth will be inhabited by Europians & a history of its present inhabitants will be a valuable acquisition I pro- pose to write one & deposit it in a box secured * * so that the ravages of time will have effect upon it. That you may know the Author I will give a succint account of his life & of the cause of his arival which I have extracted from a manuscript which will be deposited with this history : \_My name was [is] Fabius] The family name I sustain is Fabius, being decended from the illustrius General of that name I was born at Rome and. received my [tuition] education under the tuition of a very learned Master At the time that Constantine arived at that city & had overcome his enimies & was firmly seated on the throne of the Roman empire I was introduced to him as a young Gentle- man [litera] genius & learning and as being worthy of the favourable notice of his imperial majisty He gave me the appointment of one of his Secritaries, and such were the gracious intimations which he frequently gave me of his high approbation of my conduct that I was happy in my stations. One day he says to me Fabius you must go to Brittain and carry an important * * * * to the general of our army there * * * * sail in a vessel and return when she returns Preparation was made instantly and we sailed The vessel laden with provisions for the army cloathing, knives and other impliments for their use had now arived near the coasts of Britan when a tremendous storm arose & drove us into the midst of the boundless Ocean. Soon the whole crew became lost & bewildered They knew not the direction to the rising Sun or polar Star for the heavens were covered with clouds; & darkness had spread her sable mantle over the face of the raging deep. Their minds were filled with consternation & dispair [and unaimously agreed thai] What could we do? How be extrecated from the insa- tiable jaws . of a watry tomb. Then it was that we felt our absolute dependence on that Almighty & gracious Being who holds the winds and storms in his hands From him alone could we expect deliverance. To him our most fervent desires ascended prostrate & on bended nees we poured forth incessant supplications, & even Old Ocean appeared to sym- pathize in our distress by returning the echo of our vociforos cries & lamentations After being driven five days with incridable velocity before the furious wind, the storm abated in its violance but still the wind blew strong in the same direction Doubt whether the wind had not changed her point we gave the ship full sail & let her drive On the sixth day after, the storm wholly subsided, the sun rose clear & the heavens once more appeard to smile Inexpressible was the consternation of all the crew, they found themselves in the midst of a vast Ocean No prospect of returning all was lost The wind blowing west war dly & the presumption was that it had been blowing, in that direction during the whole of the storm. No pen can paint the dolorious cries & lamenta- tions of the poor mariners for the loss of friends for the loss of every thing they held most dear. At length a Mariner stept forward in the midst & proclaimed. Attend friends & listen to my words A voice from on high hath penetrated my soul & the inspiration of the Almighty hath bid me pro- claim Let your sails be wide spread and the gentle winds will soon waft you into a safe harbor A country where you will find hospitality. Quick as the lightnings flash joy sparkled in every countenance A Hymn of Thanksgiving spontaniously bust forth from their lips In full confidence that the divine prediction would be accomplished they extoled the loving-kindness and tender mercies of their God & pro- mised, by the assistance of his grace to make ample returns of gratitude. On the fifth day after this we came in sight of Land we entered a spacious River & continued sailing up the same many leages until we came in view of. a Town Every heart now palpitated with joy & loud shouts of glad- ness expressed the enthusiastic transports of our souls. We anchored within a small distance from shore Immediately the natives ran with apparent signs of surprise & astonish, ment, to the bank of the River After viewing us foj^some time, and receiving signs of Friendship they appeard to hold 6 THE "MANUSCRIPT FOUND." & counsel for a few a few minutes Their King then stept for- ward to the edge of the bank & proffered us the hand of friendship & by significant gestures invited us to Land promising us protection & hospitality. We now found ourselves *once more on terra firma & were conducted by the King & ifbur cheifs into the town whilst the multitude followed after, shouting and peforming many odd jesticulations The King ordered an entertainment to be prepared for his new friends which consisted of * * * * meat fish, boiled beans & samp ******* rpj ie w h o i e was placed under a wide spreading Oak in wooden dishes A large clam shell & a stone Knife were provided for each one The King then came forward with about twenty of his principal subjects & seated us, (being twenty in number) by the side of our repast He and his company then took seats in front. After waving his hand & bowing all fell to eating and a more delicious repast we never enjoyed The repast being finished our attention was called to a collection of about One thousand men and women who had formed a ring and invited our company to come for- ward into the midst after gazing upon us for some time with surprize we were permitted to withdraw and to take our stand in the Ring About forty in number then walked into the midle of the Ring & began a song with such discordant and hedious modifications of sounds and such frantic jesticulations of body, that it seemed that chaos had bro't her furies to set the world in an uproar And an uproar it was in a short time for the whole company fell to shouting, & screaming, whooping, & screaming \at entervals] then dancing, jumping & tumbling with many indisdiscrible distortions in their countenance & indelicate jestures In fact they appeared more like a company of devils than human Beings. This lasted about one hour They then took their places in a circle & at a signal given gave three most tremendous whoops; they then instantly dispersed? playing many an tike capers & making such a confused medly of sound by skreaming, whooping screaching like owls. THE Barking like dogs & wolvs & croaking like Bull frogs, that my brains seemed to be turned topse turvy & for some time could scarce believe that they belonged to the human species. CHAPT. II An account of the settlement of the Ships Company [and many particulars respecting the natives] As no alternative now remained, but either to make the desparate attempt to return across the wide boistrous ocean or to take up our residence in a country inhabited by savages & wild ferocious beasts we did not long hesitate. We held a solem treaty with the king & all the chiefs of his nation. They agreed to cede to us a tract of excellent Land on the north part of the town on which was six wigwams, & engaged' perpetual amity & hospitality & the protection of our lives & property. In consideration of this grant we gave them fifty yards of scarlet cloth & fifty knives; with this present they were highly pleased. Arrangements must now be made for our settlement. Vessel & cargo had suffered no material damage, & by striping the vessel of its plank we could erect a house in which we could deposite the whole cargo safety All hands were immediatly employed some in procuring timber, which was hued on two sides & then locked together, some in procuring shingles & some in striping the vessel of its plank; & having a large quantity of nails on board, in ten days we finished a very convenient storehouse, sufficiently spacious to receive the whole cargo. We also built a [small] house adjoining which was to be the habitation of the Captain and myself Having secured all our property we then found it necessary to estab- 8 THE lish some regulations for the goverment of our little society. The Captain whose name was Luian and myself were appointed judges in all matters of controversy & manages of the public property, to make bargains with the natives & barter such articles as we did not need for necessaries. As we all professed to believe in the religion of Jesus Christ we unanimously chose Trojanus the mate of the Ship, a pious good man, to be our minister, to lead our devotions morning & evening & on the Lords day. But now a most singular & delicate subject presented itself for consideration. Seven young women we had on board, as passengers, to visit certain friends they had in Britain Three of them were ladies of rank, and the rest were healthy bucksom Lasses. Whilst deliberarating oiithis subject a mariner arose whom we called droll Tom Hark ye ship- mates says he, Whilst tossed on the foming billows what brave son of neptune had any more regard for a woman than a sturgeon, but now we are all safely anchored on Terra firma our sails furled & ship keeled up, I have a huge longing for some of tho^e rosy dames But willing to take my chance with my shipmates I propose that they should make their choise of husbands. The plan was instantly adopted. As the choie fell on the young women they held a consultation on the subject. & in a short time made known the result Droll Tom was rewarded for his benevolent proposal with one of the most sprightly rosy dames in the company. Three other of the most cheerful resolute mariners were chosen by the other three buxhum Lasses The three young Ladies [of rank] fixed their choise on the Captain the mate & myself. [Happy indeed in my partner I had formed an high esteem for the excellent qualities of her mind] The young Lady who chose me for a partner was possessed of every attractive charm both of body & mind We united heart & hand with the fairest prospect of enjoying every delight & satisfaction which are attendant on the connubial State. Thus ended the affair. You may well 9 conceive our singular situation. The six poor fellows who were doomed to live in a state of Cebicy or accept of savage dames, discovered a little chagrine & anxeity However they consoled themselves with the idea of living in families where they could enjoy the company of the fair sex & be releived from the work which belongs to the department of Women. Our community might be said to be one family tho we lived in seperate houses, situate near each other. The property was common stock what was produced by our labour was like- wise to be common, all subject to the distribution of the judges who were to attend to each family & see that propper industry and econimy were practised by all. The Capt. & myself, attended with our fair Partners & two mariners repaired to a new habitation which consisted of two convenient appartments. After having partook of an elligant Dinner & drank a bottle of excellent wine our spirits were exhilerated & the deep gloom which beclouded our minds evaporated. The Capt. assuming his wonted chearful- ness made the following address My sweet good soald fellows we have now commenced a new voige Not such as brot us over mountain billows to this butt end of the world No, no, our voyge is on dry land & now we must take care that we have sufficient ballast for the riging every hand on hoard this ship must clasp hands & condecend to each others humour, this will pro-good cheer and smooth the raging billows of life. Surrounded by innumerable hords of human beings, who resemble in manners the Ourang Outang let us keep aloof from them & not embark in the same matrimonial ship [with them] At the same time we will . treat them with good cheer & inlighten their dark souls with good instruction By continuing a distinct people & preserving our customs manners, religion & arts and sciences another Italy will grow up in this wilderness & we shall be celebrated as the fathers of a great & happy nation. May God bless your soul, says one of our mariners, what would you have us do who have had the 10 woful luck not to get mates to cheer our poor souls & warm our bodies, methinks I could pick out a healthy plum Lass from the copper coulered tribe that by washing arid scrubing her fore & aft & upon the labbord & stabbord sides she would become a wholsome bedfellow & I think may it please your honour I could gradually pump my notions into her head & make her a good shipmat for the cupboard & as good hearted a Christian as any of your white damsels. & upon my soul I warrant you if we have children, by feeding them with good fare & keeping them clean they will be as plump & as fair & nearly as white as your honors children. Upon this I filled the bottle with wine & observing to honest Crito that he was at liberty to make the experiment if he could find a fair * * * * to his liking I then expressed the great pleasure I received from the addresses of the speakers. & drank success to the new voige All drank plentifully & the exhileration produced the greatest cheerfulness & hilarity. By this time the sun had hid his head below the horizon & darkness invited all the animal creation to sleep & rest. We retired two & two hand in hand Ladies heads little awri blushing like the morn & But I forgot to mention that our society passed a resolution to build a church in the midst of our village. CHAP. Ill Many particulars respecting the Natives Intrest as well as curiosity invited an acquaintance with our new neighbours They were called in their language Deliwares. They were tall bodies well proportioned, strait limbs, complections of a brownish hue broad cheek bones, black wild roling eyes, & hair black & course. To strangers 11 they were hospitable true to their engagements, ardent in their friendship, but to enemies implacable cruel & barbarous in the extreme. Innumerable hords of this dis- cription of people were scattered over an extensive country, who gained their living by hunting the elk, the dear & a great variety of other wild animals by fishing & fowling & by rais- ing corn, beans & squashes. Shooting the arrow slinging stones, wrestling, jumping, hoping & runing were their prin- cipal amusements & prizes would often be staked as a reward to the conqueror. Their cloathing consisted of skins dressed with the hair on but in warm weather, only the middle part of their bodies were incumbered with any covering The one half of the head of the men was shaved & painted with red & the one half of the face was painted with black. The head was adorned with feathers of various kinds & their ears & noses were ornimented with rings, formed from the sinues of certain animals, on which were suspended smooth stones of dif- ferent coulars. Thus cloathed, thus painted, thus ornimented the Deliwares made a most terrefic appearance They held festivals at stated times, which varied in the manner of con- ducting them, according to the object they had in view At one of their annual festivals their cerimonies were peculiarly singular & different from any that were ever practised by any nation Here a description would give us some idea of their religion & would gratify the curiosity of an ingenious mind. When .the time arives which is in September, the whole tribe assemble They are dressed & ornimented in the higest fashion The women in particular have their garments & heads so adorned with feathers shells & wampum that they make a very brilliant & grotesque appearance. They form a circle their countinances are solemn. A Speaker mounts a stage in the midst. At this moment two Black Dogs led by two Boys & two White Dogs led by two young damsels enter the circle and are tied together The Speaker then extended his hands & spoke Hail ye favorite children of the great & good 12 Spirit, who resides in the Sun, who is the father of all living creatures & whose arms incircle us all around who defends us from the malicious designs of that great malignant Spirit that pours upon us all the evils we endure he gives us all our meat & our fish & causes the corn & the fruits to spring up & makes us to rejoice in his goodness. He hath prepared a delightful country to receive us if we are valiant in battle or are benevolent & good There we can pick all kinds of delicious fruit & have game & fish in abundance & our women being improved in beuty & sprighliness will cause our hearts to dance with delight But wo unto you wicked, malicious, mischevous mortals your lot will be cast in a dark mirey swamp where the malignant Spirit will torment you with musquetoes & serpents & will give you nothing to eat but toads, frogs & snails. But my dear friends all hail here is a custom which is sanctioned by time immemorial Look steadfastly on the black dogs & let not your eyes be turned away when they are thrown on the sacred pile & the flames are furiously consuming their bodies then let your earnest prayers assend for pardon & your transgressions will flee away like shadows & your sins will be carried by the smoke into the shadows of oblivion When this solemn expa- tory sacrifice is ended then prepare your souls to partake of the holy festival Each one will receive a precious morsel from these immaculate snow coulered Dogs in token that your offences have all evaporated in the smoke of the holy sacrifice, & that you are thankful to the benevolent Spirit for the abundance of good things that you enjoy & that you humbly anticipate the continuance of his blessings & that he will defend you against the evil designs of that malignant Spirit, who gives us gawl & wormwood, & fills our bosoms with pain & our eyes with tears. He then proclaimed, let the sacred pile be erected & the solemn sacrifice performed. Instantly about one hundred men came forward with small dry wood & bundles of dry sticks & having thrown them in 13 one pile within the circle they sat the pile on fire The black dogs were knocked on the head & thrown on the top in a moment all was in a blaze & the flame assended in curls to heaven. The whole company assumed the most devout attitude & muttered in sounds almost inarticulate their humble confessions & ernest requests When the dogs were consumed & the fire nearly extin- guished, the cerimonies of their sacred festival began the white dogs which were very plump & fat, were knocked on the head & their throats cut. Their hair was then singed off, having first their entrails taken out & being suspended by the nose before a hot fire they were soon roasted thrown upon a long Table & desected into as many pieces as there were persons to swallow them The company immediately formed a procession, one rank of men, the other of women the men marching to the left & the women to the right of the Table each one took a piece & devoured it with as good a * * * * as if it had been the most delicious morsel. Having completed these sacred cerimonies with great solemnity the whole company formed themselves into a compact circle round the stage ten musitians immediately mounted & at once, the multitude on every side sang a song The tune & the musical voices of the singers pleased the ear, whilst the immagination was delighted with the poetic inginuety of the composition The multitude all joined in the chorus, with voices so loud & multifarious that the atmosphere quaked with terror & the woods and neighboring hills [sent back'] by way of mockery sent back the sound of their voices improved by tenfold confusions. Perhaps, reader, you have the curiosity to hear the song I can give you only the last stanzy & the chorus. ' For ua the sun emits his rais ' The moon shines forth for our delight ' The stars extol our heroes prais ' And warriors flee before our light. 14 THE "MANUSCRIPT FOUND." CHORUS ' Delawan to chakee poloo ' Manegango farwah teloo ' Chanepauh, lawango chapah ' Qtiinebogan bamboo gowah. The solemnities are ended & in their opinion their poor soiils are compleatly whitewashed & every stain entirely effaced. A little diversion will now dissipate the solemnity & inspire them with cheerfulness & merriment. The whole tribe repair to the top of an hill, at one place their is a gradual slope a small distance & then it decends about twenty five feet in an almost perpendicular direction, at the bottom of which is a quagmire, which is about ten feet in length & the soft mud is about three feet deep at each end the ground is soft but not miry Down this declivity twenty pair of very suple & sprightly young men & women are to decend, If by their agility & dexterity they escape the quagmire a piece of wampum will be the reward of each fortunate champion but if they plunge in, their, their recom- pence will be the ridecule & laughter of the multitude In making this decent, six young women & five young men by a surprising dexterity in whirling their bodies as they decended cleared themselves from the quagmire The rest as their turns came plunged in & came out most wofully muded to the great diversion of the spectators. The incident which excited the most merriment hapned when the last party decended. by an unlucky spring to clear himself from the quagmire he bro't his body along side of the declevity & roled his whole length into the midst of the quagmire where he lay [his whole length in an horizontal position on his bade] neither heels up or .head up, but horizontally .-soft & easy but alas when one unlucky event happens another follows close on the heals. the fair, [plump] corpulent Damsel, his affectionate sweetheart came instantly, sliding with great velocity She saw the woful position of her beloved She wished him no harm THE "MANUSCRIPT FOUND." 15 She raised her feet this bro't the center of gravity directly over the center of his head here she rested a moment his head sunk she sunk after him his heels kicked against the wind like leshuran waked fat but not a word from his lips but his ideas came in quick succession tho't he, what a disgrace to die here in the mud under the pressure of my sweet heart however his time for such reflections, were short the tender hearted maid collecting all her agility in one effort dismounted and found herself on dry land in an instant not a moment to be lost; she seized her lover by one leg & draged him from the mud a curious figure, extending about six feet six inches on the ground, all bismeared from head to foot, spiting, puffing, panting & strugling for breath Poor man. the whole multitude laughing at thy calamity, shouting, rediculing none to give thee cbnsolatioii but thy loving & simpithetec partner [in misfortune Upon my soul, exclaims droll Tom stemfermost that bouncing Lass ought to have the highest prize for draging her ship from the mud~\ She was cleaning the filth from his face. CHAP IV. A journey to the N W. & [removal.] Gracious God! how deplorable our situation! are we doomed to dwell among hords of savages & be deprived of all social intercourse with friends & the civilized world? & what will be the situation of our offspring? will they preserve our customs & manners, cultivate the arts & sciences & maintain our holy religion or [rather'] will they not rather degenerate into savages & by mingling with them become the most * * * * * race of beings in existence Who can indure such reflections, such heart-rending anticipations? they pour 16 THE "MANUSCRIPT FOUND." upon my soul like a flood and bear me down with the weight of a milstone. that my head were waters & my eyes a fountain of tears then my intolerable burthen should be poured forth in a torrent & my soul set at liberty. But behold the light springs up & beams upon my soul. She brings in her train Hope that celestial Godes, that sure & strong anchor that dispencer of comfort & pleasing anticipation & that dispeller of coroding grief & black dispair She bids me review the exploded reasning of a great philosopher & compair it with my own observations perhaps the result will point out a safe road to the land of our nativity. Thus I reasoned respecting the solar system, of which the earth is a part. Provided the earth is stationary, according to the present system of philosophy then the sun, the moon & the plannets, being at an immense distance from the earth must perform their revolutions round her with inceivable velocity whereas, if according to the Platonic system, the earth is a globe & the sun is stationary then the earth by a moderate vel- ocity can perform her revolutions This scheme will represent the solar system as displaying the transcendant wisdom of its almighty Architect for in this, we behold the Sun suspended by omnipotence & all the planents moving round him as their common center in exact order & harmony In this we can easily account for days & nights & the different seasons of the year, When the earth presents one part of her face to the sun it is day When that part is turned from his beams it is night When she varies to the south the sun shines upon us in a more perpendicular direction the suns beams become more dence & the heat increases as she returns back the heat decreases in proportion as this part of earth looses its perpen- dicular direction to the sun & the cold becomes more intence in the same proportion. This accounts for the various seasons of the year, appears correct and consistent & highly honourable to the divine perfections. [But behold tJie other system The Earth firmly fixed on a 17 firm foundation perhaps as some on a giants back who stands on a prodigious Rock Its surfice widely extended nearly horizontal [& its cut down] & its sides cut down strait or perpendicular to the very bottom beloiv which is a bottomless abiss Pray Mr. Phil- osopher what man was ever there and looked down? & what prevents the Ocean, unless it is damd with earth & rocks from pouring down & loosing itself in this horrible abiss? But how extensive is this teraque-surface ? Indeed I am of opinion, if this sistem is true I am nearly at one end of it.' But the hipothises is too absurd & incon- sistent. The earth must be of a spherical form & a westerly course will lead us to the land of our nativity Perhaps this is a part of the eastern Continent, or perhaps only a narrow strip of the Ocean intervenes? On no other principle can we account for the emigra- tion of the ancestors of those innumerable hords of human beings that possess this continent Their tradition is that their ancestors came form the west & they agree in their information that at the distance of fifteen days journey in a westerly direction, there are nations vastly more numerous, powerful & civilized than themselves J\ The earth therefore must be a globe and a westerly course will lead us to the land of our nativity. On what principle can we account for the emigration of the ancestors of these innumerable hords of human beings that possess this Con- tinent? Their tradition tells them that they emigrated from the westward From this I draw the conclusion that the sea if any, w r hich intervenes between the two Continents at the westward is not so extensive, but that it may be safely navi- gated. [I have also learnt from some of the~\ we are also informed by some of the natives, that at the distance of about fifteen days journey in a northwesterly course there is a great River which runs in a \_south~] westerly direction, \_they cannot tell how far] & that along the banks of this river there are great towns & mighty kings & a people who live in a state of civilization From all these considerations I am determined to remove pursue a westerly course & seek the delightful country of my 3 18 ancestors. Imediately I communicated my determination & the reasons on which it was founded to our little Society, who joyfully acquiessed It was tho't to be the most prudential to find out the disposition & character of the inhabitants, who were settled along the great River lest we should fall into the hands of Robbers For this purpose my man Crito & mysell & a Delawan for an interpreter set off. We passed thro' a a country interspersed with vilages, inhabited by the same lyind of people as the Delawans until we came to a great mountain. Having passed over this we had not traveled far before we came to the confluence of two great Rivers which in conjunc- tion produced a river which was called Owaho deep enough, for the navigation of Ships. Here was a large- town or city inhabited by a distinct race of people from any we had seen before. We were immediately conducted to the King & were received very graciously & having asked a number of very pertinent questions & received answers to his satisfaction I then made known to him our business & had all my requests granted As we proposed to move into his territory he offered to furnish us for our convenience with four Mammoons & four men to manage them. These were an annimal of prodigious magnitude, even biger than the eliphant, which the natives had tamed & domesticated They were very segacious & docile & were employed in carying burthens & in drawing timber [& in plowing their land] Their hair at the spring season was about seven inches in length & was of a fine wooly consistence & being sheared off at the proper season was manufactured into course Cloth and the milk of the females, which they produced in abundance, afforded a very wholsome nutriment. Having thus succeeded beyond our expectation we made as much expidition to return as possible We arrived in safety without any material accidents The Little Society I had left were greatly rejoised on our returne & highly pleased with the account we gave of the country we had visited & at the sight of those {extraordinary prodigious THE "MANUSCRIPT FOUND." 19 animals'] mammoons which we had bro't to convey our baggage. No time was lost to make preparation for the journey The Captain, Mate & myself went to the King & held a conference with him & the cheifs & obtained leave to depart, tho with apparent regret & reluctance. Sacks were provided from Course Cloth to receive the most valuable part of our goods & furniture These were thrown across three of the Mammoons The other was caparisoned, in a manner too tedious to discribe for the accomidation of our women & children They were all mounted upon him & road with great conveni- ence & safety. [Being thus prepared &, ready] Thus having resided among the Delivans two years & being prepared to take our departure The King & his chiefs & many of his prin- cipal subjects came forward to take an affectionate farewell. This was done on both sides, with mutual expressions of the most ardent and sincere Friendship & the most earnest wishes & prayers for future prosperity and happiness Having taken our final adieu I observed honest Crito sheding tears very plentifully You seem to be affected said I God bless your honour said, he, when I think how kind & generous these poor Delawans have been to us I cannot help feeling an affection & friendship for them We were obliged to anchor amongst them we were strangers & helpless and they were ignorant Sav- ages yet they held out the hand of kindness & treated us as brothers & sisters. Have they not fulfilled the law of Chris- tian charity that they were good Christians may God for- give their ignorance & unbeleife and reward them for their kindness & gerosity. We passed on No obsticles impeded our journey until we came to the great River Suscowah which runs between the Deli wall River and the great mountain The water being too deep for fording, \\ e built a small boat and with this, at several times we conveyed the whole of the bag- gage & Company across, except the manager of the Mam- moons, who mounted them & swam them across We then proceeded on by slow marches, but in crossing the great '20 THE "MANUSCRIPT FOUND." mountain we had some difficulties to encounter [but hower met with received no material damage] but finally arived safely at the great city Owhahon on the twenty fifth day after our depart- ure from the Deliwan. Fatigued with a long and difficult journey, great joy and gladness were visible in every Countenance, and all were dis- posed to establish our residence here until further information could be obtained & further measures concerted to prosecute our journey to Europe The King and his principal officers proffered us every assistance necessary to make our situation agreeable. They assigned us in [conformity to our wishes] com- pliance with our request, a number of houses on the bank of the river at a little distance from the City We made him some valuable presents in return, which he received as a token of friendship but not as a compensation For such was the high sence of honour which this prince sustained, that when he made a present, he would take it as an insult to offer him any thing as a compensation. Having now once more become setled our little com- munity continued the same regulations which they had established at Deliwan & all things proceeded in peace & our affairs prospered. CHAP V A discription of the Ohons, [c manner of procuring a living,] I am now to discribe a [species of] nation who have but little resemblance to those [innumerable tribes of] Savages, who live along the coasts of the Atlantic Their complexion, the form and construction of their bodies, their customs manners, Laws, government & religion all demonstrate that they must THE "MANUSCRIPT FOUND." 21 have originated from some other nation & have but a very distant affinity with their Savage neighbours. As to their persons, they were taller on an average than I had ever seen in any nation their bones wer large, limbs strait & shoulders broad Their eyes rather small & sunck deep in the head Their forheads were prominant & the face below tapering in such a manner that the chin was forned nearly to a point. As to their complexion, it was hording on an olive tho of a lighter shade Their eyes were generally of a dark brown or black Their hair of the same colour, tho I have sometimes seen per- sons, whose hair was of a redish hue. They cloathed themselves in cloth which was manufac- tured [among themselves] from the hair of the Mammoons & from Cotton which was transported from the South westwest- ward. The men wore shoes and long stockings, wide trousses a waistcoat & a garment with wide short sleaves which came down to their nees & in cold weather a Cloak over the whole The covering for the head was generaly a kind of a Cap which ran up high and tapered to a point This was generally made of fur skins & was ornimented with feathers. It had a small brim in the shape of an half moon to project over the fore- head 7 The women beside a stockings & shoes wore a short pete- coat a shirt of cotton a loose garment with sleaves which they girted round them with belts & a cloak They had various orniments such as ribbons made from cotton & coulored with different coulars the most beautiful feathers that could be obtained and shels of various kinds Indeed the higher class of women were extreemly fond of ornament & placed a large share of their happiness in the bliancy & gaudy appearance of their garments. The people obtained their living generally by the cultivation of the Land & [the manage'] by tending and managing certain animals which had been so long domesti- cated that they had lost their wild nature & become tame Corn, wheat, beans squashes & carrots they raised in great 22 THE abundance The ground was plowed by horses & generally made very mellow for the reception of the seed. It was the occupation of a certain part of the men to tend upon the tame animals to drive them to pasture & keep them from straying and feed them when the snow was on the ground. Two men would tend twenty Mammouth, which were indifferent whether they fed on grass or cropt the bushes when these animals were fat, their flesh was highly esteemed They had droves of Elk, which they had so tamed and tutored that they could manage them as they pleased and they would follow them like a flock of sheep & it was but seldom that any would leave their companions, The elk constituted a considerable part of their animal food The horses were man- aged in the same way & the people tho't their meat to be a savory dish. They had large numbers of turkeys and gees which tho originally wild yet by treating them with great familiarity by croping their wings and feeding them frequently they dis- covered no disposition to ramble off but propagated their species & laid eggs in abundance. Hunting & fishing were the employments of some others followed mechanical business others carried on a bartering trade to the southwestward in order to furnish the people with cotton & other articles whose production was not con- ginial to their climate. By pursuing these various employ- ments they generally had a plenty of provisions at all seasons & were comfortably cloathed. And here I would remark as one striking characteristic of this people that the} r observed great neatness in their dress in their cookery and in their houses. The manufacturing of Iron & lead was understood but was not carried on to that extent & perfection as in Europe. A small quantity of Iron in proportion to the number of inhab- itants served to supply them with all the impliments which custom had made necessar}^ for their use By hamnering & THE "MANUSCRIPT FOUND." 23 hardening their Iron they would convert it nearly into the consistence of steal & fit it for the purpose of edge tools. The potery Business was conducted with great inginuity, & great quantities of stone and earthan ware consisting of [every kind] of vessels of every construction which were needed for family use, were manufactured in every part of this extensive country. These vessels they ornirnented with [pictures witli] the likenesses of various kinds of animals & trees & impressed upon them such coulors as would strike the fancy with delight. The females of the [higher Class] most wealthy class would often have a large and superfluous quantity of this brittle furniture to decorate one apartment of the house The vessels they arranged in such order as to make a display of taste & impress the mind with the agreeable sensation of beauty. In architecture there can be no comparison with the civil- ised nations of Europe' In their most welthy & popolous Cities their houses and public buildings, exhibit no eligance no appearans of wealth & grandure all is plain & nothing superfluous but convenience appears to be the whole object they had in view in the construction of their buildings of every kind. Their houses were generally but one story high built of wood, being framed & covered with split clapboards or shingles