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D I S CO V E R Y O F A M E R I CA
BY

I R

LT HO

T HE

I S

UGH th e t i t l e o f

t h i s wo rk i n d i c ates th at I ri s h
pe o p l e d i sc ove re d A m e r i c a p rev i o u s to th e n i n th c e n
t u r y I w i l l n o t a t t e m p t to s h o w a t w h a t p art i c u l ar
t i m e th at eve n t too k p lac e I n s u ch w o rk s as h ave
co m e u n d e r m y n o t i c e re lat i n g to th e e arl y d i s cov e ri e s
o f A m e ri ca I n d n o pos i t i ve ev i d e n c e th at t h e I ri s h p O | ) l
C
ev e r d i s cov e re d A m e ri c a i n t h e s e n s e i n w h i c h t h e t e rm i s u s e d
as ap pl i e d to n ew l y fo u n d l a n d s
I be l i eve how eve r th at a pe ru s al o f th e fo l l ow i n g p age s
w i l l l e av e l i t tl e d ou b t i n p eo pl e s m i n d s t h a t a C e l t i c rac e
o n c e i n h ab i te d al m o s t th e e n t i re W es t e rn H e m i s ph e re a n d
t h a t a l arge p art o f th e N o rt h A m e ri ca n C o n t i n e n t was k n o w n
to t h e N orth m e n b y t h e n a m e o f G rea t I re l a n d W h e th e r
th e s e C e l ts o ri gi n al l y c a m e fro m I re l a n d o r t h e p eo p l e o f
I re l a n d fro m A m e ri c a n o o n e ca n s ay w i th ab so l u t e ce rta i n ty
,

"

So m e h i s to ri an s i n fo rm u s th at l i t t l e was k n ow n o f I rel
and by
t h e a n c i e n t s a n d t ha t n o d e n i te ac c o u n t s o f t h a t i s l an d w e re
o b tai n e d u n t i l t h e t i m e o f t h e i n vas i o n o f B r i ta i n b y th e
R o m a n s I t i s p robab l e t h at I re l a n d k n e w far m o re o f t h e
an c i e n t s t h a n t h e y k n e w o f I re l an d A c co rd i n g to t h e m a p
o f P to l e m y th e c e n t r a l po r t i o n of I re l an d was i n h ab i te d i n
,

D IS

CO

ERY

O F

AM

E R I CA

h i s d ay b y th e Sco t i t h e n o rth by th e R o b og d ii t h e eas t by

t h e D a r nii V o l
u ntii E b l
i Ca u ci M ena p ii a n d Co r iu nd i ;
an
t h e s o u th by th e B ri ga n t e s V o d ii a n d l b e rn i
th e w e s t b y th e
L u ce n i V el
a b o r ii Ca n
g a ni A u te ri M a g na tae an d Ha u d inii
Fo r m an y c e n t u ri es I re l an d w as k n ow n by th e n a m e o f

I e rn e T h e n a m e o f O gygi a m o s t a n c i e n t l an d w as ap p l i ed
to i t by P l u ta rch I re l an d s ty l e d I er nis i s m e n t i o n e d i n a
G re e k poe m v e c e n tu ri es b e fo re C h r i s t a n d b y th e n am e s o f
H i be r n i a "u ve rn a an d I ri s i n vari o u s fo re ig n pagan w ri te rs
H e rod o t u s fo u r c e n tu ri e s be fo re th e C h ri s t i a n e ra p lace s t h e
C e l ts b eyo n d th e P i l l a rs o f H e rc u l e s an d u po n t h e bo rd e rs o f
t h e m o s t w es t e rl y regi o n i n E u ro pe a n d C aes ar i n t h e rs t
c e n tu ry n d s th e m i n B ri t ai n a n d G a u l
Polybiu s i n the
s eco n d c e n t u ry b e fo re C h ri s t al l u d e s to t h e B ri t an n i c I s l a n d s
b e yo n d th e P i l l ars o f H e rc u l e s an d t o t h e w o rk i ng o f th e
m i n e s b y th e i n h ab i tan t s
A G re e k poe t w ri t i n g u n d e r th e n am e o f O rph e u s m e n t i o n s
th es e re m o te ( B ri t i s h ) i s l an d s u n d e r t h e n am e o f th e I e r nia n
I sles
A c o m parat i ve l y l ate w ri t e r F e s tu s R u fu s A v ienu s i n h i s

poe t i cal D e sc ri p t i o n o f th e W o rl d w ri t te n fro m th e ac co u n t

o f H a m i l car m e n t io n s th e p l a i n s o f t h e B ri to n s a n d t h e d i s ta n t
T h u l e a n d tal k s o f th e sac re d i sl e p eo p l e d b y th e n at i o n o f
t h e Hib e r ni a n d th e ad j ac en t i s l an d o f t h e A l
b io nes
T h e a n c i e n t s t e l l o f a l arge i s l a n d w h i c h was s u n k i n t h e
A tl a n t i c O c ean m a n y c e n t u ri e s ago I n S o l o n s re l at i o n to th e
E gy p t i a n P ri e s ts w e n d th e fo l l o win g w o rd s

Th e re e x i s t ed a n a n c i e n t an d c e l eb rat e d pe o pl e i n G reec e
t h e w i s d o m o f wh os e l aws a n d fa m e o f w h os e val o r are r e
no w ne d i n t h e sac re d w ri t i n gs an d an c i e n t a n n al s o f E gy p t
T h i s h e ro i c rac e w e re as h i gh l y c e l eb rat ed fo r th e i r e x p l o i ts by
s e a as b y l an d as w as ev i d e n t i n th e i r ard u o u s co n t e s t s w i t h
t h e m igh ty n at i o n w ho fo rm e rl y i n h ab i t ed t h e vas t i s l an d
A t l an ti s n ow b u ri e d i n t h e oc ea n wh i ch be ars i t s n am e T h i s
i s l an d w as s i t u at ed n e ar t h e s t rai t s o f G ad es a n d i t e x c e e d e d
i n m agn i t u d e al l E u ro pe a n d A s i a j o i n e d toge t h e r I t was s o
cal l e d fro m A tl as th e so n of N e p t u n e w h os e d es c e n d a n t s
,

BY

I RIS H

T HE

re i gn ed th e re i n an h e red i tary l i n e d u ri n g a p e ri o d o f n i n e
t h o u sa n d years an d e x te n d e d th e i r s way ove r al l t h e ad j o i n
i ng regi o n s fo r th e re w as a n eas y pas s age fro m t h i s i s l an d t o
t h e n e ighb o ri n g i s l an d s an d co n t i n e n t s an d th e i r a rm i e s p as s
i n g ove r i n to E u ro p e an d A fri c a s u b d u e d al l L y b ia to t h e
bo rd e rs o f E gy p t a n d al l E u ro pe to A s i a M i n o r ; i n s u cc e e d i n g
ages o w i n g to p rod i gi o u s earth q u ak e s a n d i n u n d at i o n s i n th e
s pac e o f o n e d ay a n d n i gh t al l t h a t par t o f G ree ce w h i c h y o u r
a n ce s to rs i n h ab i ted was d e so l at e d an d s u b m e rged an d t h e
A t l a n t i c i s l an d i t s e l f b e i ng s u d d e n l y abs o rbe d i n to th e bo s o m
o f t h e oc ean e n t i re l y d i sap p eared a n d fo r m an y age s a ft e r
w a rd s th at s ea c o u l d n o t b e n av igat e d ow i n g t o th e n u m e ro u s
roc k s a n d sh e l ve s w i t h w h i c h i t ab o u n d e d
,

M r D av i s i n h i s
.

A m e ri ca n A n ti q u i ti es

s ays :

T h e a p p eara n c e o f t h e gl ob e i n t h a t pa rt i n w h i ch t h e c at
as
tr O p h e i s s ai d t o h av e h ap pe n ed h as b e e n as s e rte d b y s o m e
l earn e d m e n t o bear m a rk s o f s u ch a n eve n t h av i ng tak e n p l ace ;
an d t h at th e C an ari es A z o res a n d T e n e ri ffe a re n o th i ng e l s e
t h an t h e t o ps o f m o u n tai n s be l o n gi n g to l an d s u n k i n t h e A t l a n

t i c O cean
B u ffo n says t h i s t rad i t i o n o f th e I s l an d A tl
a ntisis
n o t d evo i d o f p rob ab i l i ty an d th at t h e l a n d s wal l o we d u p b y th e
w at e rs w a s p e rh ap s t h a t w h i ch u n i te d I re l a n d to t h e A z o re s
a n d t h e A z o re s to th e co n t i n e n t o f A m er i ca
,

M r W h i teh u rs t ob s e rve s ( s ee W h i t eh u rs t s w o rk s ) t h at h e
i s al m o s t p e rs u ad ed th at I re l an d was o ri gi n al l y a part o f th e
i s l a n d A t l an t i s
T h i s O p i n i o n o f W h i te h u rs t s i s h i gh l y s t re n gth e n e d b y t h e
fol l ow i ng re m a rk ab l e t rad i t i o n o f t h e o l d I ri s h gi ve n b y a n
au th o r of th e h i gh e s t re p u tat i on w h os e e n t i re wo rk I regre t I
h av e n eve r b e e n ab l e t o se e T h e ge n t l e m a n al l u d e d t o i s

G e n e ral V a l
a grea t
l
an
cey w h o s ays th e o l d I ri sh re l at e t h a t
par t o f I re l a n d w as swal l ow e d u p b y t h e s ea ; a n d t h a t t h e
s u n k e n part o fte n ri s e s a n d i s fre q u e n t l y s e e n o n t h e h o ri z o n
fro m th e n o rth e rn coas t I n t h e n ort h we s t t h e y cal l a c i t y o f
th i s e n ch a n t e d i s l a n d T i r H u d o r t h e ci ty o f H u d b e l i e v i n g
o n e s t a n d s t h e re w h i c h o n c e p oss e s se d al l t h e ri c h es o f t h e

D I S CO V E R Y

A M E R I CA

O F

wo rl d T h i s i s a ge n e ral t rad i t i o n w i th t h e m Th i s i s l a n d i s
cal l ed O B r a esil
o r O B r a z il
w h i c h s i gn i e s R o yal I s l an d

l
an
cey say s
G e n e ral V a l
I t i s ev i d e n t l y th e l os t c i ty o f
A rab i a n s t o ry v i s i te d b y th e i r p ro ph e t H o u d t h e c i t y a n d
parad i s e o f I re m
T h e fol l ow i n g ex t rac ts al s o are tak e n f ro m M r D a v is w o r k :

T h e a n t i q u i t i e s o f A m e ri ca s t re tch fro m th e g rea t l ak e s o f

t h e n o rt h a n d w es t t o th e s o u t h e r n part s o f P e ru ; fro m th e
A l l egh a n y M o u n ta i n s o n t h e eas t t o t h e Ro c k y M o u n tai n s o n
t h e w e s t ; an d ev e n fro m th e P ac i c to t h e A t l an t i c O c ea n

T h e m o n u m e n tal h i s to ry o f C e n t ral A m e ri ca t e l l s u s th at
th i s i s n o t a n e w wo rl d A n d w e awak e w i th as to n i s h m e n t
th a t th e re was o n c e th e s eat o f a grea t e m p i re b e fo re D av i d
re i gn e d ov e r t h e tw e l v e t ri b e s o f I s rae l o r O cta v iusw av ed h i s
s ce p t re ove r th e c i v i l i z e d wo rl d

B u t al as " t h e fo u n d at i o n o f c i t i e s as m agn i c e n t as th os e
th at ad o rn e d t h e ba n k s o f th e N i l e h av e van i sh e d l i k e t h e
gen e rat i o n s b e fo re t h e ood

T h e s to n e h at ch e ts u s e d by th e M ex i c an s w e h av e th e
o
au th ori t y o f t h e A r ch aeo l
i
a Vol
I
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"
9 7 to as se rt we re th e
g
s a m e as th os e fre q u e n t l y fo u n d i n G re a t B ri ta i n an d w h i c h go
b y th e n am e of C e l t s T ra n s m i gra t i o n o f s o u l s was tau gh t
by th e D ru i d s o f G reat B ri tai n A n d i t ap p ears th e n at i v e s
o f O th eite M ex i co b el i ev ed i n i t al s o
Wh e n th e S pan i ard s arri ved i n S ou t h A m eri ca th ey fou n d
s t on e s c u t i n to th e gu re o f t h e c ro s s wh i ch w e re m u ch reve red
b y th e M e x i can s

l
G e n e ral V a l
T h e s y m b ol o f k n ow l ed ge am o n g
an
cey s ay s
th e an c i e n t I ri s h w as th e c ro s s
T h e re are fo rts i n M ex i c o t h e ge n e ral p ri n c i p l e o f th e wo rk
o f w h i ch i s u n d o u b t ed l y o f ve ry great a n t i q u i t y T h e re i s
o n e o f th e s e an c i e n t fo r ts i n I re l an d ( se e T ran s I ri s h A ceo l
Vol I I ) n am e d N o r se l
ea p w h i ch i s al m o s t p rec i s e l y s i m i l ar t o
s o m e fo u n d o n th e M u s k i n gu m M o u n d s s i m i l ar to t h os e i n
M ex i c o a re co m m o n i n G reat B ri tai n ( Se e A r ch aeo l
o g ia Vo l
" V I p 26 8
I t i s s t i l l t h e c u s t o m th e r e w i th t h e n a t i v e s i n pas s i n g s u ch
.

"

BY

T HE

I RISH

a p l ac e t o c as t th e reo n a s to n e t o i n c re as e th e m o n u m e n tal
p i l e T h e c e re m o n i e s obs e rv e d w i th th e I ri s h are i n d i v i d u al l y
th e sa m e w i th t h e M e x i c an s

M r B rya n t s ays
th at w h e reve r th e s e m on um e n ts o cc u r
w e m ay e s tee m th e m o f t h e h i gh es t a n t i q u i ty
S u c h w o rk s
are ge n e ral l y re fe rre d to t h e C e l t s an d D ru i d s
M r H e n ry R S ch oo l c raft i n a n ad d re s s b e fo re th e N e w

an i n s c ri p t i o n fo u n d i n
Y o rk Histo r ica l
S o ciety i n 1 8 4 6 s ai d
1 838
o n o p e n i n g th e gi gan t i c p i l e o f earth o r t u m u l u s h e re t o
fo re re fe rre d to o n th e al l u v i al p l ai n s o f G rav e C re e k i n
Wes t e rn V i rgi n ia was i n o n e o f th e ty p es o f t h i s an c i e n t
ch arac te r T h i s ty pe o f t h e al ph ab e t m ay b e c al l ed A o n i e a
t e rm d e ri ve d fro m t h e ab o ri gi n al vocab u l ary I v isited t h e
l oc al i t y i n 1 8 4 3 care f ul l y ex am i n e d th e fac ts an d h av i n g
s at i s e d m y s e l f o f th e au th e n t i c i t y o f th e d i s cove ry too k
d u pl i cat e c o p i e s o f th e i n sc ri p t i o n i n w ax a n d t ra n s m i t t e d
th e m t o E u ro p e T h e i n s c ri p t i o n co n s i s t s o f tw e n ty th re e
l e t te rs t oge th e r w i t h a p i c to ri al d ev i ce ap pare n t l y a m a n s
h ead o n a p i k e P ro fes s o r C h arl e s R afn o f C o p e n h age n
d e e m s t h e ch arac te rs Cel
T h i rt e e n o f t h e ch arac te rs
tib er ic
co rre s po n d w i th t h e D ru i d i cal o r o l
d B ri t i s h as i t ex i s te d
b e fo re th e i nvas i o n o f "u l i u s C ae s ar T h e l at te r are h o wev e r
tib e r ic
al m os t i d e n t i ca l as far as c om pa ri so n goe s w i t h th e Ce l
a v i a r o i n h i s h i s to ry o f M e x i co re l ate s t h a t th e M e x i
Cl
g
ca n s d e sc r i b e t h e gi a n t s w h o we re ru i n e d a t t h e t i m e o f th e
gre at e arth q u ak e s
I n M o o re s h i s to ry o f I rel a n d i t ap p ears th a t th e A tta co ts
o r gi an t rac e e x i s te d i n I re l a n d A D 1 2 6
A cc o rd i n g to a n c i e n t I r i s h w ri t e rs I re l a n d w as v i s i te d b y a
wo n d e rfu l p h e n o m e n a o f l i gh t n i ng ab o u t t h a t t i m e wh i c h
d e s t roy ed n earl y eve ry t e m p l e o n t h e w h o l e i s l a n d an d c a u s e d
th e d ea t h b y l i gh t n i ng s t ro k e o f n e arl y
p e rso n s I t was
t h ey say s u c h a ph e n o m e n a as h ad n eve r b ee n s e e n s i n c e t h e
begi n n i ng o f t h e wo rl d a n d n eve r w i l l b e agai n u n t i l th e
j u d gm e n t d ay

I n B row n e l l s D i sc ove ri e s P i o n e e rs an d Se t t l e rs o f N o rt h
an d So u t h A m e ri ca w e n d t h e fo l l o w i n g :
,

'

I S CO V E R Y

O F

AM

E R I CA

Wh e n I ce l a n d was rs t s e t t l e d b y t h e N o rt h m e n a s m al l
co l o n y o f C h ri s t ia n s w h o a re s u p po s e d t o h av e co m e fro m
I re l an d we re fo u n d t h e re
T h i s was i n th e v ea r 8 6 1

H av e rty i n h i s H i s to ry o f I re l a n d A n c i e n t a nd M o d e rn
s ay s :

I ri s h m e n we re t h e rs t C h ri s t i a n s a n d pe rh ap s t h e rs t
i n h ab i t ant s o f I ce l an d w h i c h t h e y cal l e d T h u l e o r T y l e
M r B row n e l l say s :

T h e re are s ev e ral a n c i e n t N o rs e re c ord s al l t re a t i n g o f

p e rs o n s h i s to ri c al l y k n o w n to h av e e x i s t e d i n A m e ri ca
w h i th e r fo rm e rl y ve s se l s cam e fro m I re l an d
M r D av i s s ay s :

F ro m a l e t t e r p re s e rve d b y t h e s o n o f C o l u m b u s i t a p pe ars
he vi si ted Icelan d
I t was t h o u gh t b y t h e I ce l a n d e rs th at h e
th e re ob tai n e d a k n ow l e d ge o f t h e d i sc ove ry o f A m e ri ca a n d
th a t as h e w as ra th e r ar t fu l h e co n c e al e d t h e k n ow l e d ge fro m
m anki nd

A w o rk e n t i t l e d
D i s c ov e ry o f A m e ri c a b y t h e N o rth m e n
w as p u b l i s h e d i n Lo n d o n E n gl a n d i n t h e y e a r 1 8 4 1 b y N o r t h
L u d l ow B e a m i s h F e l l o w o f th e R oyal S oc i e ty a n d m e m b e r
o f t h e Roy al D a n i sh S oc i e ty o f N o rth e rn A n t i q u i t i e s au t h o r

o f t h e H i s to ry o f th e G e rm a n L eg io n e tc M r B e a m i sh
wa s as soc i ate d w i th C h arl e s C h ri s t i an Rafn K n igh t o f th e
R oyal D an i s h O rd e r o f D a n n e b rog o f t h e R oya l S w e d i s h
O rd e r o f t h e N o rt h S ta r C o u n s e l l o r o f S ta te t o H i s M aj e s ty
t h e K i n g o f D e n m a rk P ro fe s so r o f N o rt h e rn L i t e ra t u re
F e l lo w o f t h e R oy al A n t i q u ar i a n Soc i e ty o f Lo n d o n a n d
S e c re ta ry o f t h e Ro ya l Soc i e t y of N o rt h e r n A n t i q u a ri e s F ro m
M r B ea m ish s w o rk t h e fo l l ow i n g e x t rac ts a re d e ri ve d :

A m o n gs t th e vari ou s val u ab l e a n d i m po r ta n t p u b l i ca t i o n s
o f t he R oy a l D an i sh Soc i e ty o f N o r th e r n A n t i q u ari e s th a t
w h i c h h as c re a t e d th e gre a te s t ge n e ral i n t e re s t i n th e l i te ra ry
w orl d i s th e ab l e a n d e l ab o ra t e w ork o f P ro f Rafn w h i c h
cam e o u t a t C o pe n h age n i n th e y e a r 1 8 3 7 u n d e r t h e t i tl e o f
,

"

A ntiq u ita te s A
A nz

S cr ip /or es S eptm tr zona es

m e r ica n
ae, r ive

'

r er

um

T h i s i n t e re s t i n g p u b l i cat i o n
th e fru i t o f gre a t l i te rary l ab o r a n d e x t e n s i ve re s e arc h c l e arl y
'

'

m e/ 7 6 0

BY

T HE

I RI S

s h o ws th a t t h e e as t e r n co as t o f N o r th A m e ri c a was d i sc ove re d
a n d c o l o n i z e d b y th e N o rt h m e n m o re th a n v e h u n d re d y ea rs
ba fo re t h e re p u te d d i s c ove ry o f C o l u m b u s
T h es e fac ts re s t u po n t h e au t h o r i ty o f a n c i e n t I c e l a n d i c
niv e r sity L ib r a r ie so f
m a n u sc ri p t s p re s e rve d i n th e R oy al an d U
C o pe nh age n a n d wh i c h h av e no w b e e n fo r th e rs t t i m e t ran s
l at e d a n d m ad e p u b l i c F a c s i m i l e s o f t h e m o s t i m p o rt a n t o f
th e s e d oc u m e n t s are g i ve n i n P ro f Ra f u s w o rk t oge th e r w i t h
m a p s a n d d e l i n ea t i o n s o f an c i e n t m o n u m e n t s i l l u s t rat i ve o f th e
s ubj e c t A D a n i s h a n d L a t i n t ra n sl a t i o n fol l o w s t h e I c e l a n d i c
t e x t an d th e w h o l e i s ac c o m p an i e d b y i n t ro d u c to ry o b se r
ph i l ol ogi cal a n d h i s to ri cal re m ark s as w e l l as
v a tio ns
arc h ae o l ogi c al a n d ge ograp h i cal d i s q u i s i t i o n s o f h i gh i n te re s t
a n d val u e

T h e i n c i d e n tal al l u s i o n s t o t h e v oyage s a n d s e t t l e m e n t s o f
t h e I ri s h w h i ch a re co n tai n e d i n t h e m i n o r n arrat i ve s a re
m o re l i k e l y t o e x c i t e th a n sa t i s fy e n q u i ry M u c h s t i l l re m ai n s
t o b e u n rave l e d o n th i s i n t e re s t i ng s ubj ec t a n d i t i s to b e
regre t te d t h at n o co m p e te n t h an d s h ave y e t b e e n ap p l i e d t o
t h i s n e gl e c t e d po rt i o n o f I r i s h h i s t o ry I t h as be e n to o m u c h
th e p rac t i c e t o d e c ry as fa b u l o u s al l s t at e m e n t s c l a i m i ng fo r
t h e e arl i e r i n h ab i t an t s o f I re l a n d a c o m p ara t ive l y h i gh d egre e
o f ad van c e m e n t a n d c i v i l i z a t i o n a n d n o tw i t h s ta n d i n g th e
m an y val u ab l e p u b l i c at i o n s c o n n e c te d w i th t h e h i s t o ry an d
an t i q u i t i e s o f t h at c o u n t ry wh i c h h av e fro m t i m e to t i m e c o m e
fo rth a n d th e m o re rece n t c a n d i d l e ar n e d a n d e l o q u e n t p ro
d u c t i o n o f M r M oo re t h e re are n o t w an t i ng ( ev e n a m o n g h e r
s o n s ) t h o se wh o w i th t h e an t i I ri s h fe e l i n g o f th e b i go t ed
Ca m b r e nsis w o u l d s i n k I re l a n d i n t h e scal e o f n at i o n a l d i s
t i n c t i o n a nd d e n y h e r c l ai m s to t h at ea rl y e m i n e n c e i n re l igi o n
l e ar n i n g an d t h e a r ts w h i c h u n q u es t i o n ab l e rec o rd s s o fu l l y
it t l e u np r e d j u d ice d e n q u i ry w o u l d
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b e s u f c i e n t t o sa t i s fy t h e c a n d i d m i n d t h at E ri n h ad goo d

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N or th m e n i n t h e n i n th c e n t u ry I ri sh e m igra n t s h ad v i s i te d
a n d i n h ab i te d th at i sl an d ; t h a t abo u t t h e y e ar 7 2 5 I ri sh
e cc l e si as t i c s h ad s o u gh t se c l u s i o n u po n t h e Fa ro e I s l an d s ;
t h a t i n t h e t e n th c e n t u ry v oyage s b e t w e e n I ce l a n d a n d I re l a n d
w e re o f o rd i n a ry occ u rre n c e ; a n d t h a t i n t h e e l e ve n t h c e n t u ry
a c o u n t ry w e s t fro m I re l a n d a n d s o u th o f th a t p a rt o f t h e
A m e ri c a n C o n t i n e n t w h i c h w as d i scove re d b y t h e ad v e n t u ro u s
N o rth m e n i n t h e p rec e d i n g age w as k n o w n to t h e m u n d e r th e
n am e o f W h i t e M a n s L a n d o r G re a t I re l a n d
F ro m w h a t c au s e co u l d t h e n a m e o f G re a t I re l an d h av e
a ri s e n b u t fro m t h e fa c t o f th e co u n t ry h av i n g b e e n co l o n i z e d
b y t h e I r i s h " P ro f R a i n i s o f o pi n i o n t h a t W h i t e M a n s L an d
o r G rea t I re l an d o f th e N o rth m e n w as t h e co u n t ry s i tu a te d to
t h e so u t h o f C h e sa pe a k e B ay i n cl u d i n g N o rt h an d So u t h
C a ro l i n a G e o rgi a a n d E a s t F l o ri d a S h aw a n e s e I n d i an s u se d
t o s ay th a t F l ori d a was o n c e i n h ab i te d by wh i te m e n w h o
u s e d i ro n i n s t ru m e n t s
L i o n e l W afe r w h o re s i d e d fo r s eve ra l m o n t h s am o n gs t th e
i n h ab i t a n t s o f th e I s t h m u s o f A m e ri c a s ay s :

M y k n ow l e d ge o f th e H i gh l a n d l an gu a ge m ad e m e th e
m o re ca pab l e o f l ea rn i n g t h e D a r i e n I n d i a n s l a ngu a ge w h e n
I wa s a m o n g t h e m fo r t h e re i s s o m e a f n i ty fo r m a n y o f th e
w o rd s b e ar a m a rk e d s i m i l a ri ty t o t h o s e o f t h e C e l t i c
I t i s re m ark ab l e a l s o w h a t a n I n d i a nK i ng s a i d t o a S p a n i a r d
viz
T h a t i n fo rego i n g age s a s t ra n ge p eo p l e a rri ve d t h e re
b y s ea
I t i s c e rt ai n th a t w h e n t h e S pa n i ard s rs t co n q u e re d M ex i c o
t h e y w e re s u rp ri s e d to h e ar th e i n h ab i t a n t s d i s co u rs e o f a
s t ra nge pe o pl e th a t fo rm e rl y ca m e t/zzt/zer i n cor r a ug /zs w h o
ta ugh t th e m t h e k n o w l e d ge o f G od a n d o f i m m o rta l i t y
i n s t ru c t e d t h e m al s o i n v i r t u e a n d m o ral i t y a n d p re s c rib e d
h o l y r i te s a n d c e re m o n i es o f re l i gi o n
I t m ay b e h e re re m ark e d t h a t th e w o rd co r r a u g h i s a n
I ri sh n a m e o f a l a rge b oa t
T h e B ri t i sh l an gu age i s s o p re va l e n t h e re t h a t t h e v e ry
t ow n s b ri d ges b e a s t s b i rd s r i v e rs h i l l s e t c a re c al l e d b y
B r i t i sh n am e s
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11

T h e fol l ow i n g se l e c t i o n s are m ad e fro m th a t d i v i s i o n o f th e

A ntiq u ita te sA m er ica nae e n t i t l e d
B r ev io r esR e l at i o n s
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e x t rac t s a n d s h o r t n a rra t i v e s t ak e n fro m vari o u s I c e l a n d i c
m a n u s c ri p t s n o w e x ta n t i n th e Ro yal a nd U
n i ve rs i t y L i b rari e s
o f C o pe n h age n T h e y w i l l b e fo u n d t o c o n ta i n s o m e i n t e r
e s t i n g pa rt i c u l ars o f th e t ra c e s o f I r i s h se t t l e r s fo u n d i n I ce
l an d p rev i o u s to th e o c c u p a t i o n o f t h a t i s l a n d b y t h e N o r
w eg ia nsi n t h e n i n t h c e n t u ry as we l l a s au th e n t i c acc o u n t s o f
voy age s p e rfo rm e d b y th e N o rt h m e n i n t h e y ea r 99 9 a n d 1 0 2 9
to t ha t pa rt o f t h e We s t e rn H e m i s ph e re k n ow n t o t h e m u n d e r
th e n am e o f W h i t e M a n s L a n d o r G rea t I re l an d ( Hv itr a
m a n n a l an d ed e r I rl an d i t M ik l
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co rd i n g t o t h e S e co n d Ve l l u m C od e x N o 6 1 Fo l
T h u s say s th e h o l y p ri e s t B e d e i n t h e ch ro n i c l e s wh i c h h e

w ro te co n c e rn i n g t h e reg i o n s o f t h e e art h
T h a t th e i s l a n d
w h i c h i s cal l e d T h u l e i n t h e boo k s l i e s s o fa r i n th e n o rth
p ar t o f th e wo rl d t h a t t h e re c a m e n o d ay i n t h e w i n te r w h e n
t h e n i gh t i s l o n ge s t a n d n o n i gh t i n s u m m e r w h e n th e d ay i s
l o n ge s t T h e re fo re t h i n k l e arn e d m e n t h a t i t i s I c el an d w h i c h
i s c al l e d T h u l e fo r t h e re are m a n y p l ac e s i n t h at l a n d w h e re
t h e s u n se t s n o t a t n i gh t w h e n th e d ay i s l o n ges t a n d i n t h e
s am e m an n e r w h e re t h e s u n ca n n o t b e s ee n b y d ay w h e n t h e
n igh t i s l o n ges t B u t th e h ol y p ri e s t B e d e d i e d D C C " " " V
y ea rs aft e r t h e b i r t h o f o u r L o rd "e s u s C h ri s t m o re t h a n a
h u n d re d a n d t w e n ty y e a rs b e fore I c e l an d w as i n h ab i te d b y
t h e N o rth m e n
B u t b e fo re I ce l a n d w a s co l o n i z e d fro m N o r
w ay m e n h ad b ee n t h e re w h o m t h e N o rth m e n cal l e d P apa s
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T h ey w e re C h ri s t i a n s fo r afte r t h e m w e re fo u n d I ri s h b oo ks
b e l l s a n d c ro z i e rs a n d m a n y o t h e r t h i n gs fro m w h e n c e i t

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co u l d b e s e e n tha t t h ey w e re C h ri s ti an m e n a n d h ad c o m e
fro m t h e w e s t o ve r t h e s ea E ngl i s h b oo k s a l s o s h o w t h at i n
t h a t t i m e t h e re w a s i n t e rc o u rs e b e t we e n t h e tw o c o u n t ri e s
F ro m t h e S c h ed u l e o f A ri F rod e N o 5 4 Fo l
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A t th a t t i m e w as I c e l an d cov e re d w i t h woo d s b e t w e e n th e
m o u n t a i n s a n d t h e s h o re T h e n w e re h e re C h ri s t i a n p eo p l e
w h o m t h e N o rt h m e n ca l l e d P apa s b u t t h e y we n t a f te rw ard s
away b e ca u s e t h ey wo u l d n o t b e h e re a m o n gs t h e a th e n s ;
a n d l e ft af te r t h e m I ri s h b ook s a n d b e l l s a n d c ro z i e rs fro m
w h i c h cou l d b e s e e n t h a t t h e y w e re I ri s h m e n
Bu t then
b egan p eo pl e t o t rave l m u c h h e re o u t fro m N o rway u n t i l
K i n g H a ro l d fo rbad e i t b ec au s e i t a p pe a re d t o h i m th a t t h e
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h i gh t a m a n d ur i ng th e re ig n o f K i n g O l a f t h e
S a i n t u n d e r too k a t rad i n g voyage to D u bl i n b u t w a s d ri ve n
fa r t o t h e w e s t i n t h e s ea w h e re n o l an d w as t o b e s ee n
A fte r m a n y d ays i t c am e t o pas s th a t t h e y s aw l an d I t wa s
a gre a t l a n d b u t t h ey k n e w no t w h a t l a n d i t w as Wh e n
th e y h ad b e e n a s h o r t t i m e o n s h o re c a m e pe o p l e t o th e m
T h ey k n e w n o n e o f th e p eo p l e but it r a t/tar appea r ed to t/zem
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t h a t i t m a d eu p m a n y h u n d re d s T h e i r C h i e f w h o u n d e rs too d
th e N o r t h e rn to ngu e m ad e m a n y i n q u i ri e s ab o u t h i s pe o pl e i n
I re l a n d a n d h e ga ve t h e m a gol d ri n g to tak e t o a l ad y i n
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an d V i n l a n d t h e Go od ( N e w E n gl an d ) b e y o n d t h e l a s t N e x t
t o t h i s a n d s o m e th i n g b ey o n d i t l i e s A l ban i a t h at i s Hv i
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T h e re s e ve ral I r i s h m e n a n d I c e l a n d e rs s aw a n d re c og n i z e d
A ri t h e so n o f M a r a n d K o th l
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w h o m n o th i ng h a d b ee n h ea rd fo r a l o ng t i m e an d w h o h ad
b ee n m ad e t h e i r ch i e f by t h e i n h ab i tan t s o f th e l an d

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d r i ve n i n a t e m p e s t ( 9 8 3 ) t o th e regi o n c al l e d Hv itr a m a nna
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I n a n ac co u n t o f a v oyage t o V i n l a n d d a t G o d e ( N e w
E n gl an d ) an i n c i d e n t i s re l a t e d o f a G e rm a n s ai l o r w h o h a d
s t raye d awa y fro m t h e cam p o f t h e N o rt h m e n T h ey b e
co m i n g al arm e d a t h i s a b s e n c e w e n t i n s ea rc h o f h i m T h ey
fo u n d h i m i n a pl e as a n t l i t t l e va l l ey ap pa re n t l y i n h i gh gl e e
I na n s we r t o th e i r e n q u i ri es h e s a i d t h at h e h ad fo u n d grap es
an d h ad e at e n h i s l l o f t h e l u s c i o u s fru i t w h i c h s ee m e d t o b e
th e sa m e a s grew al o n g t h e b an k s o f h i s n a t i v e R h i n e
\V e h ave i t o n go od au t h o ri ty t h a t th e a n t i q u i t i e s o f A m e r
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s i x ty m i l e s i n c i rcu m fe re n c e a n d t o h av e h ad n e arl y t h re e
m i l l i on i n h ab i ta n t s
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a m o n g th e m o s t m agn i c e n t i n t h e w o rl d an d w o rk s o f a rt
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O n e g re at d i f c u l ty w i t h A m e ri ca na n t i q u ar i an s h a s b e e n
t h a t t h ey h ad n o t a n u n d e rs t a n d i n g o f t h e I ri s h l an gu age I f
t h e y h ad t h e y w o u l d h av e re ad i ly re cogn i z e d t h e m a n y I r i s h
n am e s i n M e x i co C e n t r a l A m e r i ca a n d S o u t h A m e r i ca T h e
s e c t i o n o f t e rri to ry a ro u n d M e x i co was ca l l e d A n ah u ac ; i f w e
s u p po s e t h e o r igi n al p ro n u n c i at i o n to h av e be e n A g g h g in
s t ead o f A n ah u ac w e h av e th e co m po u n d I r i s h w o r d
s i gn i fy i n g G rea t F i fth I re l a n d w as i n a n c i e n t t i m e s d iv i d e d
i n to ft h s ca l l e d
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O n e o f th e i r gre at c i t i es w as n a m e d T u l l a T h e re i s t o t h i s d ay
a t o w n i n I re l a n d b y t h e n am e o f T uI l
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age I f w e s ay T eh a u nth a p ig instea d o f T eh a u nte pe c w e h ave

t h e co m p o u n d I r i s h wo rd
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T h e q u e s t io n m ay b e as k ed h o w s h al l w e ac co u n t fo r th e
A m e ri c a n I n d i a n o r R e d M a n " I f w e ac c e p t t h e v e rs i o n th a t
t h e I ri sh t h e A t l an te s a n d t h e A m e ri c an C e l t s a l l fo rm ed a t
o n e t i m e o n e rac e a n d pe rh ap s o n e n a t i o n t h e n p erh aps h e
m ay b e ac c o u n t e d fo r o n t h e t h eo ry t h a t t h e A t la n te s too k
p ri s o n e rs w h o m t h ey ca rri e d o ff a s s l av e s a n d w h o s e d escen
d a n ts g ra d u al l y e s c ape d i n t o t h e w i l d regi o n s a n d i n t i m e
Wo u l d i t b e im p o s
S p re ad t h e m s e l v e s ov e r al l t h e h e m i s ph e re
s i b l e fo r s u c h a rac e t o s pr i n g f ro m a m i x t u re o f t h e s wa rth y
The R om ans
r ac e si n S out h er n E uro p e T u r k ey a n d E gy p t
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15

u se d to a l l u d e to t h e C a r th agi n i a n s as n e i t h e r w h i te n o r
b l ac k
T h e A m e ri c a n C e l t i c rac e h as pass e d aw ay fro m
w h a t cau s e s i s n o t k n o w n
P e r h ap s th e y w e re grad u a l l y
ex t e rm i n a te d by w a r p e s t i l e n ce an d fa m i n e C e n t ral A m e ri c a
w h e re t h e m o s t t rac es o f t h e i r e x i s t e n c e re m a i n i s a v e ry
u n h e al th fu l cou n t ry P e rh ap s it was n o t so u n t i l th e fo re s t s
wh i ch s to o d b e t w e e n i t a n d t h e gu a n o b e d s al o n g t h e n o rt h
co as t o f So u th A m e ri ca w e re c u t d ow n w he n t h e d ead l y
va po rs ari s i ng fro m t h os e gu a n o d e po s i t s w e re b o r n e d i re c t l y
t o i t b re e d i ng y e l l o w fe ve r a n d o t h e r d i s e as e s a m o n g i t s in
hab i t a n t s T h e s t rea m o f wa t e r w h i c h o ws t h ro ugh t h e b od y
o f th e e art h a n d co m e s to th e s u rfac e at t h e G u l f o f M ex i co
t h e n c e fo rm i ng t h e G u l f S t re a m m ay al s o c o n d u c e t o i ts
u n h e al th fu l n e s s
E ar th q u ak e s a re m e n t i o n e d
I t i s l i k e ly
th at gre a t e ar th q u ak e s w i l l o cc u r agai n T h e s t re a m o f w at e r
j u s t re fe rre d t o i s d o i ng i t s w o r k s l
ow l y b ut s u re l y i n t h e in
te r io r o f t h e e arth
I n t i m e l arge e x cav a t i o n s a re p rob ab l y
fo rm e d w h e re i n th e e a r th s u d d e n l y s e t t l e s a n d co n t i n e n t s are
s u b m e rge d P er h a p sina re m o t e fu t u re age w h e n p l ace s w h e re
n o w d ry l a n d i s w i l l b e c ove re d w i t h w a t e r A t l
a n t i s w i l l aga i n
r i s e t o t h e s u rface a n d th e ru i n s o f T ir H u d b e e x po s e d t o a n
as to n i s h e d wo rl d

THE

END