The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-11

and IL il ID blown down BY storm or perishes from
whatever cause plant another in its place, to pre-
serve his memory psvpetually among them.
In mourning for relatives they cut on some hair
from their head. On the death Of the PREREQUISITE
they shave OF the whole Of It, and continue shaving
il as il grows during the three years in which his
body is kept before buria-having it the whole time
bare. -.
their belief is mingled with many fables they
hold that their ancestors who had lived good lives
and faithfully performed the worship OF the sun
and given aims to the poor, were, after their deatn
carried to heaven, where they are changed INTO
stars and that those who had lived an irregular he,
were taken to some high mountain in the north,
where, amid SHOWS and ice, among lions, bears,
tigers and other ferocious beasts, they suner tne
greatest misery and live In continual terror.
Such is the relation given by the French author,
from whom we have taken it, of this remarkable ma
ton, 80 advanced in Improvement above the otner
North American tribes the correctness OF whicn
cannot DO questioned from his account OF the source
from which he states he derived it, and which, as 1t
contains historical fact in the early colonization
of this continent, not noticed by any American
writer for this reason alone deserves TO De rescued
from the obscurity in which it Is.
In 1921, says Rochefort. the English colonists,
who had been planted in Virginia, being greatly
harassed by the Indians some families resolved 10
leave it, and embarked in vessel to sail to New
England; but the winds being contrary they were
driven down to the coast OF Florida and be-
coming short Of provisions landed at q river
called Seloy. There. finding a company OF
Apalachians, who had come to the seao .sst
to gather salt as their custom vas at that
season Of the year, they were invited by them to
visit their country. The proposal was accepted,
and they conducted them to itfrst to the province
of Matique, then to that of Amana and Benarlms;
strengthened their colony, BY drawing TO II the
greater part Of the Indians of the islands Of Roatan,
Mouneca and Outeli. in the Bay Of Honduras, which
NAV have been to protect them against the Apala-
cho orfa mn N
and by inviting to it great number OF Europeans,
Of different nations and various character from the
Bahama islands, among whom were some pious and
jealous individuals, who were pleased 70 nave SO re-
religious improvement and to propagating the Chris
tian religion among the natives
Two OF the directors chosen for this colony were
Mr.. Bristock and Mr.. Edmund Graves. The relation
which Rochefort gives of the Apalachans he states
was sent to him by Mr.. BrstOck. written in Latin,
who is described as gentleman who, among ms
other accomplishments knew the languages OF Nir'
gnia and of all those Of Florida. Mr.. Graves, who
IS STYLED by him Doctor of Laws afterwards trans
mitted to him q translation Of 1t in french-that
which he published in his work. To these two
learned persons he presented copy OF the work ana
Dr. Graves ON receiving it (Mr. Bristock having
since died) wrote him letter of some length, re.
turning him his grateful thanks for the present. and
for the notice he had taken colony
far from the world in the bosom OF the Appalachian
mountains and for having given the relation OF MI
Brstock in 30 accurate manner; which letter was
ACCOMPANIED with a sketch of the capital of the
Apalachians Meletot. showing the Mount Olaimi, on
which they performed the worship Of the sun the re-
sidence of the PREREQUISITE and chapel erected by
the colonists. In the second edition OF Rochefort
appears this letter and an engraving from the
sketch.
From these facts, the authenticity Of the relation
given by him. as received from Mr.. Bristock and OF
its being correct copy cannot admit of the least
d0nbt
This early English missionary establishment on
the Appalachian mountains is very interesting
fact, and the reader will, we have no doubt, be
pleased with hearing the account given by Rochefort
Of the result of its efforts. Although it must have
been an arduous task for the missionaries to draw
they were 30 devoted and which was performed with
such imposing ceremonies, yet their Intelligence,
gentleness and docility may have encouraged them
and il appears they met with eminent success. The
PREREQUISITE was converted and baptized, and his
example was followed by many Of his officers and
the most considerable heads Of families In the pro-
vinces Of Benarim and Awana, and especially by
those Of the capital, Meletot. The mountain Olami
the Paracousse having enoined on his subjects; and
especially the Jaoaas or priests to abstain there
after from performing on It their national and i'm
memorial worship the sun.
The Apalachians, from the degrees OF improve
ment which they possessed, 1t Is probable originated
from Mexico, especially as most OF the nations OF
Georgia and Florida according to their traditions,
came from the West across the Mississippi, and the
Natchez and Chicasaws point expressly to Mexico
as their original country.
This idea receives support from some circum-
stances in the worship Of the Apalachians. The
mount Olaimi, on which they performed 1t In honor
of the SUM- was of the form of one OF the two great
pyramids at Cholula in Mexico, erected by the Toll
ices who arrived in II some time before the Aztecs
or present Mexicans This pyramid, which was de-
dicated TO the sun, was of conical shape, with a
spiral path around it leading TO the top which was fiat
Further. their mode OF worship was similar to that
of the Toltecs "Some times, says Mr. Prescott in
his Conquest of Mexico" 1.-THE ceremonies Of the
Mexicans' which were generally human sacrifices,
"where Of light and cheerful kind. PROFESSIONS
were made of women and children crowned with
flowers and bearing the Offering of fruits, the rpen-
ed maize the sweet incense Of perfumes and other
oderiferous gums These were the principal customs
derived from their Toltec predecessors which they
engrafted on their own superstition
The word Tonatzuti, signifyng birds OF the sun,
also indicate their derivation from Mexico a. In the
language of the Toltecs and Mexcans for both spoke
the same Tonatin signifies the Deity, with whom
the sun was in some manner identified.
The Apalachians appear to have been acquainted
with Mexico, for Rochefort says they showed road
by which they had once sent forces to 1t.