Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-07-12
Aari1ultnraI.
ON THE QUESTION, WHETHER THE HON.
EY BEE is A NATIVE OF AMERICA.

ON THE QUESTION, WHETHER THE HON.
Ely BEE IsA NATIVE OF AMERICA.
Mr.. Jefferson, in his notes on Virginia, has
said that "the honey bee is not native of
of our continent. The Indians concur with
us in the tradition that it was brought from
Europe, but when, and by whom we know not
The bees have generally extended themselves
into the country little in advance oil the
white settlers. The Indians therefore call
them the white mans fly; and consider their
approach as indicating the approach of the
settlement of the whites" He allows that
" Brazil there is a species Of honey bee, with
out sting, but that it is very different from
the one we have, which perfectly resembles
that of Europe" The facts adduced by this
respectable author are true but they will not
warrant his conclusion that "the honey bee,
meaning the one resembling that of Europe,
is not native of our continents There is
one circumstance in the history of Column
bus, which proves that bees were known
in the islands of the West-Indics, at the time
of his discovery. When on his first return to
Europe he was in danger of pershing at sea,
he wrote an account of his discovery on parch-
ment, which he enclosed in cake of war,
and put into tight cask, committing the
whole to the sea, in hopes Of its being driven
on shore Or taken up. This wax was procur-
ed in the island of Hispaniolat which he had
visited, and it was one of the first fruits of
his discovery.
The indefatigable Purchas gives us an ac-
count of the revenues Of the empire Of Mexico,
before the arrival of the Spauiards as des-
cribed in its annals; which were pictures
drawn on cotton cloth. Among other articles
he exhibits the figures of covered pots with
two handles, which are said to be pots Of
bees honey;"t OF these pots, two hundred
are depicted in one tribute-rol and one hun
dred in several others.
This account is confirmed by late history
of Mexico, written by the Able Clavigero, a
native of Vera Cruz who from residence
of thirty-six years in Mexico, and minute
inquiry into the natural history and antique
ties of his country must be supposed to be
well informed, and competent to give just
account He tells us, that part of every
useful production Of nature or art was paid
in tribute to the Kings Of Mexico and among
other articles Of revenue he reckons 1000
cups of honey" paid annually by the inhabit-
ants of the southern parts of the empire.4
He also says, thas though they extracted
great quantity OF wax from the honey comb !;
the either did not know how, or wero not at
the pains to make lights of it."
In his enumeration ofthe insects of Mexico,
he reckons six different kinds of bees which
make honey,N four of which have no stings,
and Of the other two which have stiugs, one
agrees with the common bee Of Europe, not
only in size, shape and color; but also in its
disposition and manners, and in the qualities
of its honey and wax"
In the account given by Purchas, of the
travels Of Ferdinando de Soto, in Florida, it
is observed, that when he came to Chiaha,
which by the description was one of the upper
branches of the Mobile (now in the state of
Georgia. he found among the provisions of
the natives "a pot full of bees.''f This was
A. D. 1910, when there was no Europeans
settled on the continent of America but in
Mexico and Peru.
From these authorities it is evident that
honey bees we're known in Mexico and the
islands, before the arrival of the Europeans !;
and that they had extended as far northward
as Florida, country SO denominated from
the numberless flowers which grow there in
wild luxurance and afford a plenty of food, for
this useful tribe of insects. The inference is,
that bees were not imported by the Spaniards
for however fond they might be Of honey as an
article of food, or Of wax to make tapers for
common use, or for the illumination of their
churches yet as bees were known to be in the
country there could be no need of importing
them. The report of honey and wax being
found in the islands, in Mexico and in Florida
had reached Europe and had been published
there long before any emigrations were made
to the northward; if therefore, these if had
been considered as articles of substance or of
commerce; the sanguine spirit of the first
adventures would have rather led them to
think Of finding them in America, than of
transporting bees from Europe to make them.
AS to the circumstances of bees, extend
ing themselves little in advance of the white
Settlers" it cannot be considered as conclu-
sive argument in favor of their having been
first brought from Europe. It's we'll known,
that where land is cultivated, bees find a
greater plenty of food than in the forest. The
blossoms of fruit trees, of grasses and grain,
particularly of clover and buck-wheak afford
them rich and plentiful repast; and they
are seen in vast numbers in our fields and
orchards at the season of these blossoms.
They therefore delight IN the neighborhood
of 4" the white settlers" and are able to in.
crease in numbers, as well as to augment their
*Voyage to England, p. 100.
Page 70, American edition. I2l, English.
tsee his life, chap. 90.