Roman was a Jeromitan friar, come with Columbus, who began to convert the Haytians in 1496, and collected their traditions, after learning their language, out of the Areitos or songs and hymns used in festivals. He wrote them in 1498 by order of Columbus, and they are inserted at large in his life by his son; but were almost neglected by Irving. They give us not only an insight into the belief, religion, traditions of the Antillian people; but also a compendium of fragments on their annals. Although very desultory, much less connected than those of Mexico, the Linapis, Ongwis &c., and destitute of chronology; yet they afford an essential addition to American history, and the ancient accounts about the Atlantis and Antilles.
In order to bring them into a kind of order, they shall be analyzed, reduced to a succession of events and divided into 3 parts, 1. Cosmogony and Theogony, 2. the flood and primitive history, 3. ancient [pg 163] history previous to Columbus or 1492. A fourth part foreign to these traditions would be their annals since that time, and till the extinction of the nation; which shall be given hereafter, with the account of the language, and civilization—What is peculiar to these traditions among the Americans, are the metamorphoses of men into beasts &c., as in Ovid.
The nation who furnished these annals, was the Haytian of Hayti, a branch of the nation dwelling also in Cuba, and filling the Lucayes and smaller Antilles: whose collective proper name was Taino meaning noble. But they acknowledged as brothers, many tribes of the continent under the collective name of Guatiaos brothers, this was ascertained in 1520 by Figueroa.—(See Herrera.) These Guatiaos were the Aruac nations and tribes, that were not cannibals. These tribes as enumerated by Figueroa in 1520 were in the Antilles the 1. Haytians, 2. Cubans, 3. Jamaicans, 4. Boriquans (Porto Rico), 5. Cairis that dwelt in Trinidad, Barbuda, Marmagitas and Gianis Islands. While those of the continent were the 1. Aruacas of Guyana, 2. Paracurias of Cubagua, 3. Urinatos of Oronoc, 4. Pavonas of Cariaco, 5. Cariatis, 6. Cumanas, 7. Chiribichis, 8. Coquibocoa, 9. Unatos. These five last were intermixt with the Canibas or Caribas, the cannibal tribes, foes of the Guatiaos, which are the Galibis and Carib tribes; that had desolated [pg 164] and conquered most of the eastern Antilles.
All the Tainos spoke the same language divided into several dialects; but understood reciprocally. D'Angleria tells us in 1512 that two distinct languages were used in Cuba, the eastern was a mere dialect of Hayti; but in the west was a very different language not understood; this was the Cami derived from the Olmeca of Oaxaca or the Maya of Yucatan; they having sent there a colony, and founded a kingdom.—(see the Maya History.) In Hayti there was also in the center of the island a kingdom of Mayas? the people were called Mayo-riexes or Macoryxes, (meaning Maya people). They spoke a language different from the Haytian (Dangleria) divided into 3 dialects Cayabo, Cubaba, and Baichagua. This kingdom of strangers was called Cubaba or Caibaba, and Ziguayos. They are called Caribs by some authors; but erroneously.62
Many other additional traditions on the Antilles are scattered in early writers, D'Angleria, Gomara, Herrera, Munoz, Acosta, St. Mery, Oviedo, Columbus, Brigstock, Rochefort, Edwards, Garcia, Laet, &c. which shall be partly noticed here as a sequel to Roman, and all connected as a general outline of a history of the Antillian nations.
Having succeeded to make out a fine vocabulary of nearly three hundred words [pg 165] of the Taino dialects, collected from Roman, Columbus, Dangleria, Munoz, Las-Casas, Herrera, Gili, Humboldt, Vater &c.—and another of about 150 words of the Cairi or Eyeri language of the Aruac Islanders out of Dudley, Rochefort &c. I will be enabled to translate and elucidate nearly all the Taino historical names and allusions, so as to clear up the annals by original etymologies. The orthography will be Spanish, J must be pronounced as Kh, and X as Sh.
The Haytians had besides these songs, other annals; since the priests taught history, and the origin of things to the sons of the nobles. They had also perhaps peculiar symbols to keep their records, since Dangleria mentions that they had paintings of beasts, tygers, eagles &c. on cotton, hung to walls. St. Mery says that in 1787 was found in the mountains of Guanaminto a tomb with a stone of 6 feet covered with hieroglyphs! and in the mountains of Limbé, engravings of human figures on a serpentine rock; besides many sculptures in Caves. Columbus saw in 1492 in Inagua one of Lucayes a gold medal with letters on it! If we had figures of these hieroglyphs and engraved symbols, we should probably obtain another clue to American history and graphic systems. But they are probably lost by neglect like those of North America! The Antilles being on the way from the east to the continent must have [pg 166] served as a stepping place to many nations on their passage to the continent.63
1st Part.—Theogony and Cosmogony.
1. Fact. The Supreme God, bears five names or titles given by Roman and Dangleria in two dialects, and is male or female.
| By Roman | By Dangleria | Meanings | |
| 1. | Attabei | Attabeira | Unic-Being. |
| 2. | Jemao | Mamona | Eternal. |
| 3. | Guacas or Apito | Guaca-rapita | Infinite. |
| 4. | Apito or Siella | Liella | Omnipotent. |
| 5. | Zuimaco | Guimazoa | Invisible. |
Roman calls it female, Dangleria a male God. The titles of this god are sufficient to indicate the supreme God of nature, and they have astonishing analogies with the primitive God of Asia and Europe, the Basks, Pelasgians, Atlantes, Guanches &c. The most common name was the first, in Cuba Atabex. This and other great Gods were not sculptured in idols. The Chillians had similar names for the Supreme God.64
2. Fact. This God was father or mother of another great God dwelling in the sun with a double name, variable in the dialects.
| First Name. | Second Name. | |
| By Roman | Iocahuna | Guamaarocon. |
| By Dangleria | Iocauna | Guamaonocon. |
| In Cuba | Yocahuna | Guamaoxocoti. |
| In Jamaica | Yocahuna | —— |
| In Boriquen | Iacana | Guamanomocon. |
| By Oviedo | Iovana | Guamamona. |
| Variations | Iocavaghama | Guamochyna. |
The explication of these names is not given; but they are identic with the gods of the Cantabrians, and Guanches of Canary islands.—The first appears to be the Jehovah and Yao of the Orientals, and is evidently the Hunaku or Supreme God of the Mayas. The second name means Lord of the World (Guama-ocon) and is a title.65
3. Event. This last God made the World, the Heavens Turei, and the Earth before the terrestrial sun and moon; also the Zemis or angels, who are male and female lesser gods, worshipped in idols, and intercessors with the great gods. In the dialects Zemes, Chemes, Chemis.
All the ancestors are since called Zemis: their worship was spread through America, under various names, and forms: as well as in the east. They are the
While in America we find the Chemim of the Carib women.
Camayos of the Peruvians.—Which are all identic in meaning Angels, Spirits and their idols. This name changes elsewhere in sound: just like Enzel in Teutonic, which has the import of El, Aones, and Zemes, is root of our Angel now pronounced Endjel. This oriental connection of ideas, names and worship, appears to be evident. They are not less in Turei heaven, Uran, Turan of the primitive nation &c.
4th Event. Some of these Zemis became bad beings, and devils Tuyra, who send diseases, hurricanes (Furacan), earthquakes and thunders to desolate the earth and mankind.
The names of Tuyra for devil and evil has analogies throughout the earth. The most striking are
[pg 169]Out of America.
In America.
By the change of R to L, we have the Tulas and Atlantes of America.—See Taraguva of 10th Event.
5th Event. The good Zemis were appointed to make the earth and men, and to rule over both. Guabanzex, a female [pg 170] Zemis, made the air and water, and became the goddess of the ocean and winds.
This will answer to the first period of the earth creation, when the water was above the land, and the Rkio of Moses was divided. The name appears to mean the windy.66
6th Event. The male Zemis Jaia (Khaya, the earth) made the earth and islands; he is the Aion of Sanchoniation. Every land and island is animated. The island of Hayti was a great animal like a turtle; the head and mouth was in the east, the west end of it was a long tail, called Guaca-iarima (country of the Vent). The caves were the holes of the body, venerated and used afterwards as temples and tombs.
This notion, and comparison of islands with turtles, recalls to mind the primitive turtle land of the Chinese, Hindus, Linapis &c. Jaia or Kaya for land has affinities all over the world and is a primitive word.67
7th Event. Jaia afterwards had a son, who was called Jaia-El, Higuera, or Hibuera earth-son gourd.
This first man like Adam is son of the earth, and an EL or Angel, Elohim of the orientals; it means in Haytian, son, offspring, family and tribe. It will often recur in subsequent history, in the singular for the plural. The plurals were Eli, Ili, guaili.—Gua is only the article This or Such.68
[pg 171]8th Event. The sun and moon called Boiniael and Maroio by Roman; but Binthaitel and Marohu by Dangleria and Ovieda, come out of the cave Jovovava: they are Zemis and foes of mankind. A cave with the same name was their temple in Hayti. Dangleria calls it Iovana-boina Jove Solar.
The exact time of this appearance is doubtful, and there appears to be two blended events, one of cosmogony alluding to the sun being long obscured by the primitive misty atmosphere, another historical alluding to the solar and lunar dynasties of Asia or America. The meaning of Jovo-vava or Kovo-vava is cave of fathers, both primitive names. The solar and lunar names have many analogies elsewhere, among which the chief are
Names of the Sun.
Names of the Moon.
Most of these synonyms and analogies are found in the most ancient languages: to which may be added that in the ancient Haikan language of Armenia, the sun and moon were called Noah! and Morante, names also of Noah and his wife.
9th Event. The female Zemis, Coatris-quia makes the springs and streams to flow over the earth, and became their goddess.
This is another period of oriental cosmogony, that of the irruption of subterranean waters and rain, which in the bible is posterior to Adam. The name of the Zemis is of doubtful meaning, probably Coatris-quia, hollow-quite. Coa or Cua was the name of ancient hollow temples all over America. Quia is found in Quisqueia oldest name of Hayti or the great (land) universal.
10th Event. Taragava-el and Corocora or Epileguanita, two male Zemis of the woods and hunters, made the trees and beasts. This includes probably two events anterior to the men, unless they be men.
[pg 173]The meanings of these Zemis which might guide us, are quite doubtful. Taraguva resembles Tuyra and also Turei heaven; but Epileguanita was probably the ancient god of the Caracol or Beastly-men, since it was represented by a beast or quadruped; while all the other Zemis as men and women. Ili-guanita would mean in Haytian children of the people. Therefore I presume that these are personifications of the ancient hunters, or men of the woods with the beastly and savage men of early times. Roman calls the second Corocore, synonyme of Caracara.
Part II. Antidiluvian History and Flood.
11th Event. Jaia-El rebels against his father Jaia and wants to kill him; a warfare, in which Jaia-El is killed by his father, who puts his bones into a gourd. Higuera, or Hibuera, and people the land of that name.
This refers to the fall of man and the wars of the Titans. The name for bones is omitted, it would perhaps afford another clue. Many American nations venerate and animate bones. Dangleria says, that Jaia peopled all the islands of the sea with these bones.
12th Event. Jaia being childless marries Itiba-Jatuvava from whom he has 4 twin sons called Dimivan, who became afterwards Cara-cara-cols or the great Cara-cols, the great beastly beings; but their mother dies at their birth.
[pg 174]Itiba means woman ancient and alludes perhaps to Thibet, refuge, or land of Noah. (I, is the article the). Jatuvava perhaps Japhet-father, but in Aruac Kati-uiua means the moon heavenly. The name of Dimivan is remarkable, being identic with the Demavends or antidiluvians of Persia, called Dawand in the Zendavesta, the Demoi or old people of the Pelasgians, the Demons of many nations. The Caras and Cols are found all over America and Asia.69
13th Event. Ahiacavo (grand father) or Baia-manicoel an ancestor of the Dimivan, forms the nation of Con-El, at Basamanaco, and invents agriculture, with the art of making cakes and bread.
The Dimivan acknowledge him as grandfather of mankind. Con-El is certainly a personification, meaning the sons or Elohim of Con, who is the primitive Lybian Hercules KON or KHON; and is found in Peruvian history as the first legislator of Peru. The XONS or Cones were the oldest people of Spain and Italy, same as Xâones of Greece. Their god was XON or Konah. Basamanaco is inexplicable unless it alludes to the primitive antidiluvian Manaco or Manco of Peru. Ba is dwelling, Samana an island near Hayti.
14th Event. The four brothers Dimivan meeting a mute Conel, making bread, ask him for some; but he only gives them instead Cogioba or Cohiba which is tobacco: this happened at the door of Basamanaco. [pg 175] This fable indicates an intercourse of the Dimivans and the Conels which are probably a branch of the Atlantes or Lybians.
15th Event. This refusal of bread was the cause of a quarrel and war, in which Conel kills or destroys one of the brothers or tribes of Dimivan Caracol, but a turtle Hicotea came out of his body, or an island thus called, as Hayti was. This Conel conqueror was Baia-mani-coel, whose name means Father of food celestial; but Baya is also the ocean.
This indicates a great war, and probably alludes to that of the Atlantes.70
16th Event. The Dimivans, probably in revenge, broke the gourd of Jaiael (Khayahel); but a flood of waters issue from it and drowns the land.
This deluge is called Niquen: there is no indication in Roman of the men who were destroyed, nor who were saved and how; but in Cuba was found a more ample tradition of the flood as follows.
17th Event. Three Behiques or priests who come to Cuba later, taught them that the flood had been general, had broken the land; and that a good man had been saved in a big boat with his family. That many animals were also in the boat, a vulture and dove are mentioned.
Herrera and others relate this, but in different words, and without native names. Some have supposed this account made out by the Spanish priests; but it appears [pg 176] to refer to a tradition brought by the Olmecas or Mayas in Cuba, being very similar to the Mexican accounts.
18th Event. Another subsequent flood although omitted by Roman, is alluded to by others, Garcia says that Hayti and Cuba were then cut asunder and separated from Yucatan. Dangleria says that the islands Lucayas that then joined to the great islands, were divided by irruptions of the sea. It is the second flood of Peleg, which in the Antilles broke the islands by volcanic explosions. It is impossible to say what events of the next period, may belong to the interval between the two floods; but probably some of them. All these antidiluvian events appear to belong to a different country than the Antilles, which did not even then exist, at least in their actual state, and may properly be referred to the island Atlantis or the eastern hemisphere. It was at this last cataclysm that the Antilles assumed their actual shape and number.
Part III.—Ancient History.
19th Event. After the floods the men dwelt in caves on the mountain Cauta in the land of Caanau or Caunana or Caona.
The mountains of Cauta must have been the refuge of men at one of the floods: they answer probably to the Cuta of the Hindus, name given to many rocky lands and capes besides mountains. The Ceuta mountain of Africa south of Gibraltar, was one of them, also called Abyla from the Cabyles [pg 177] or Nomadic Berbers. Dangleria states a tradition that men were created on that mountain. Cauta although unexplained is identic with Icota turtle, Ca-uta land raised. Caona means golden.
The land Caanau of Roman, Caunana of Dangleria, has been mistaken for the land of Canaan by some writers: others deem it Florida. Both are wrong. The Haytians did not come from North America; but may have sent colonies there. They came from the east, South America and Africa, or the Atlantis. The name means land of Noah? (Caa-Nau, Cau-Nana). Caunia was the ancient name of Asia Minor and Caria, the first Carians were Caunians, a Pelagian tribe which expelled by the Leleges, settled the Grecian islands, and Lybia part of which was called Caani. The Anakim of Syria giants dwelt in Ca-anak. The Khaoni were the ancestors of Epirians and Illyrians. Cauni was a mauritanian tribe.
20th Event. The sun and moon are two great Zemis called Binthaitel (sun divine) and his wife Marohu (moon), come out of the cave Iovana-boina (Jehovah-Solar), and rule the world, establishing the solar and lunar dynasties.
This historical event must be distinguished from the 8th. This refers to the solar dynasties of Asia and Africa. It must be noticed that similar places were often shown in Hayti, as the same names [pg 178] had been applied by the subsequent settlers, even when the event had happened elsewhere. In this case, these solar caves were temples in Hayti, where the figures of the sun and moon were worshipped, and prayed to for rain; but Herrera says they had their hands bound, which indicates a conquest. Pilgrims went to those caves, from all parts of Hayti. It was in the land of the king Mauziation-El (Roman) or Machiunech (Dangleria); but whether these were former dynasties and kings or late rulers, is difficult to ascertain.
21st Event. Maroco-El (lunar son) called Machocha-El by Dangleria, held the sway over men, who were still in Cauta and Caanau, and kept them confined to the caves.
This indicates a lunar dominion over mankind somewhere, and a state of confinement: Perhaps in South America; in Peru caves are also the first dwellings of mankind.
22d Event. The men were divided into double tribes or two nations, the principal or largest and of best men was called Cazibagiaga—R. Cazibaxagua—D. (Royal Xagua) and the smaller Amaianaba—R. Amayauna—D. (Mayas?), ruled by Cazics for kings.
We have here two nations well indicated. The first the Giaga or Shaguas, indicate the Lunar tribe, the Chia of the Muyzcas, and other South American tribes Achaguas of Oronoc, the Chaguays or Changas of [pg 179] Peru, Agaches or Agaiz or Paraguay; but above all the Cacha or Xauxa antidiluvian people of Peru. While in the second we trace again the Amazons or Atlantes, one of their main African tribes being the Amantes of Solin, another the Baniabas of Ptolemy, both in Lybia. In America the progeny is found in the Mayas of Yucatan, the Maynas of East Peru, the Mamayant of Brazil, the Mbayas of Chaco &c.
The important name of Cazic for kings begins to appear: it is evidently oriental, and its affinities will be shown in a note.71 It is akin also to Kachi sun, in the Eyeri dialect: the Washil of the Nachez.
23d Event. Machocha-El was set by the sun to watch the caves, and many inhabitants of the caves were killed by the sun, if they came out in the day time; they could only come out at night to seek for food. (Dangleria)
This either alludes to the great heat of the sun in Africa and the tropics, or to a dependance of the Lunar or Cave men upon the Solar men. Machocha has some affinities in the South American tribes; Machicuys of Tucumen, Machacalis of Brazil, Chaehas of Perou, Chanchones of Quixos &c.
24th Event. Some men having dared to come in the day time, were changed into stones by the sun; (Ziba is stone): also Machokael for allowing it.
This fable may allude to a war, between [pg 180] the Zibas stony or strong men and the solar tribes. These Zibas were probably the Zipas or princes of the Muyzcas. In Perou there is also a fable of men changed to stones at the primitive city of Tiahuanaco, which merely means a war and change of dominion. The name of Ziba for stone is primitive.—See the Note for affinities.72
25th Event. Another set of men, going to the shores to fish, were changed into Joboses (myrobolan or plumb trees) by the sun.
This metamorphose is peculiar to these fables: although the Mexicans called the Olmecas, fruit-people or Zapotecas. The analogies of Jobos or Kobos are found in Coyba of Darien, Cuba or Coaiba, the Mocobis of Chaco &c. Another war is probably meant by this, and the Jobos are a people. Have they any reference with the Jubas of Mauritania? who formed a divine and royal dynasty there. Juba was also the Jove or God of the Lybians. Several nations of Central and Mexican America had trees for emblems.
26th Event. The dynasty of Giona or Hi-Auna begins to rule over the men of Caziba or royal caves in Cauta.
This family of rulers or Cazics became famous afterwards as we shall see, as leaders of tribes to America. We can easily perceive here the ancient Pelagian tribes of Ionia and Aones. Hi-Auna means [pg 181] the-Aones. It was this dynasty or people that sent colonies to America: Oviedo says this happened in the time of Hesper 12th king of Spain, about 750 years after the flood, or 1658 years B. C. He deems the settlers Hesperians or Cantabrians. The root is Ona solar name of Lybians.
27th Event. Vagoniana a ruler of the Hi-Auna, went fishing from the cave, and became a bird or nightingale; who crossed the sea, and settled the island Mathinino (Martinico) with a people of women. Dangleria. His wife in the sea gives him two sons which became jewels Ziba and Guanin marble and metal.
This is a positive voyage over the Atlantic. Whenever we meet tribes of birds, in ancient history, they always mean travellers and colonies, and often passage over the sea in sailing boats, compared to birds. The first ships of the Scandinavians and Europeans seen in North America, were called birds by the natives. V and B interchange in the Haytian language as in Greek; Va-gon-iana, thus means Father-Solar-Iana. His people are called women, because unwarlike fishermen, or the Amazon tribe. Martinico was the first island settled by them: it bears the name of Matinino in Roman, and was thus called yet in 1492, Garcia mentions the 2 sons and jewels.73
28th Event. Guagu-giona king of Caziba, sent Jadruvaba out of the caves, to collect [pg 182] the holy herb Digo in order to purify and wash the body; but he was changed by the sun into a singing bird Giahuba-Bogiael (the-singer bird-divine), and never returns.
We have here a second voyage by sea in a bird, and a contention with a solar people, caused by a trading voyage to procure some American commodity: Indigo probably which is identic with Digo. Jadru-vaba or the father of Khadru, must be a new colonist. Khadru has hardly any analogies in America; but Giahuba in which he was changed has some. It appears analagous with the Yaoy and Shebaoy two Aruac tribes of Guyana, and thus Khadru might be the Aruac themselves; same nation with the Haytians once, as the languages prove; although extending to Tucuman and Patagonia. The name of Aruac or Aruagas was inexplicable: it may refer to this origin, or to the Rocou the red paint used by them. But Aruac may also mean Aluac; akin to the Labuyu of the Caribs their vassals, and the Aluez vassals of the Nachez nation. Could they derive from the ALE angels of the east; here reduced to servitude by foes?
29th Event. Guagu-Giona irritated that Jadru-vaba does not return, leaves the cave of Caziba in search of him, and went with men and women to the island Matinino, where the women were left, while the men went to the land of Guanin.
This is the third passage of the Atlantic, [pg 183] unless that of Vagoniana only mentioned by Dangleria and Garcia be the same; but they are likely to be successive tribes of Ionas. That all the women should be left in Martinico is a fable, meaning that the weakest or fishing tribes settled there or in the islands; while the warriors went to the American continent, called Guanin, which has several meanings, land of Guanas or lizard men, or land of metals. It became afterwards the name of a peculiar metal formed by the natural or artificial amalgam of 18 parts gold, 6 silver, and 8 copper: and a tribe assumed the name. Guana or Guanos was the name of a large nation of South America; perhaps come from the Guans of the Canary islands; but slightly related to the Aruacs by the languages: yet perhaps akin: it was spread east of the Andes, between the two tropics.74
30th Event. The children were left behind, because afraid to cross, and were crying after their mothers; but became changed into Tona or opossums. Garcia says into Toa or frogs.
There are no opossums in Hayti nor the small islands, nor in Africa. But they are plenty in South America, where the notion must have sprung. This fable and metamorphosis may imply a hidden meaning. The opossums are the only animals bearing their young in a pouch, as ships bear men. Could not this indicate other ships without sails, and thus no longer birds with wings?
[pg 184]TON is a remarkable word, since it is the root of Nei-ton the Lybian neptunes or navigators. The twin TUN are the holy ancestors of the Chilians, Tona-ca (flesh our) is the ancestor or Adam of some Mexican nations. The frogs were the emblem of the Muyzcas!
31st Event. Guabonito a woman follows Guaga-Giona to the bigland of Guanin by swimming. He is well pleased with it, and calls her his own Biberozi (wife-loving): but as she was diseased he puts her apart in a Guanara, where she heals, and he makes her queen.