u with mechanical knowledge and the knowledge of pottery far in
advance of that possessed by the settlers in Central America, and their
works initiated for the purpose of improving water courses and
constructing roads were far more beneficial to mankind than the temples
erected to Baal in Central America, although the Incas, though more
intelligent than the settlers in Central America, were not yet
emancipated from belief in that heathen god. Manco Capac, the first
Inca, may have been left, for aught we know, by Solomon's fleets from
Eziongeber, when in search of rosewood, mahogany, and gold, and may have
been one of those skilled mechanics that built Solomon's Temple, and
constructed the basins for it, and thus have become enlightened in
religious matters, although he had not yet advanced so far as to
entirely abandon the worship of Baal.

We are not unaware that Peruvian tradition introduces Capac into Peru at
a much later period, but no confidence can be placed in dates suggested
by a people utterly unacquainted with letters or figures, and we make no
suggestion as to the exact time when the first Inca showed himself in
Peru. It may be asked what we are to say in regard to the storied
Atlantis, and especially, what shall we say to the fancies of Ignatius
Donnelly, who has written such a beautiful romance in regard to that
island supposed by him to have existed, and have been the actual
birthplace of man. Our reply is that Central America was the only true
Atlantis; and that Atlantis sunk in the ocean only when its discoverers
became weakened in the face of the barbarous people who surrounded them
and lost their supremacy in the commercial world among the nations.
Beyond what was true of Central America, Atlantis was a dream of fancy
at an age of the world when fancy supplied the place of facts to an
uninstructed people.

* * * * *

NOTE.

I am under strong obligations to MR. GEORGE R. HOWELL, Archivist of the
New York State Library, for the aid he has given me in selecting from
ancient Greek and Roman authors their substantial statements in regard
to what they considerered[TN-10] in their day to have been discoveries
in the western world.

Transcriber's Note

The following misspellings and typographical errors were maintained.

Page Error
TN-1 5 real sea. should read real sea."
TN-2 13 against Ai should read against Ai.
TN-3 13 pealed should read pe