Lee Eldridge Huddleston, Origins of the American Indians: European Concepts, 1492-1729 (Univ. of Texas Press, 1967). It documents European writers inventing outside…

SUMMARYLee Eldridge Huddleston, Origins of the American Indians: European Concepts, 1492-1729 (Univ. of Texas Press, 1967). It documents European writers inventing outside origins for the people of the land: Tatars (Brerewood 1614), Ten Lost Tribes / Hebrews (Durán; Rocha 1681), Canaanites under the "curse of Ham" (Suárez de Peralta: "realmente los indios proceden del maldito Chanaan"); Huddleston notes Indian-slavery supporters likely used the Ham curse. Durán's "strongest argument" was that the people kept their own ways. Brerewood: "their colour testifieth, they are not of the Africans progenie." Record that these theories were written; the theories themselves are hostile-witness speculation (Disputed). Lens: every European theory made the land's people migrants from somewhere else; the "curse of Ham" was applied to the Americas' people, not only to Africans.