This is how Mr. Marsh came to be in this part of the world, and by fate or accident stumbled upon a myth, the things of legends of his time, the White Indians of Darien.
History shows us that Panama's area was rich in Gold, and some Silver, and over the generations the Spaniards, English, and others have sought for these things and in the process done much damage to the Indians of the regions, many dark deeds done many deaths and wars so the current Indians of Mr. Marsh's days were very wary of any White or Negro's who came into their lands, most prospectors never returned from the inner regions of this area. But legends and myths, stories do seem to drift out from the inner lands.
"The Indians on the Pacific coast believe firmly that some where in the tangled wilderness behind the mountains there is a stone city still in inhabited by its builders - Mayans or some race equally mysterious. It has never been seen. The coast Indians are persona non grata in the interior. They only repeat the tales which have drifted out for them from the unknown." (White Indians of Darien, Marsh p. 19)
In today's thinking we would suggest if there is unknown people, or rumors of such, why not just fly over the place an see what you can find, in the dense jungles and forests of Meso America it is hard to see past 10 yards beyond the edge of the rivers used for most travel as it is easier. Thus a search by air seems more reasonable. Back in the 1920's Mr. Marsh felt the same.
"Mr. Marsh had called upon General Babbitt, Commandant at Quarry Heights and ranking army officer in the zone, (note: Canal Zone) telling him of a tribe of white Indians that he (Marsh) had found in the interior of the isthumus. This is the answer the officer gave him: "Marsh", he replied, "I believe you and I'll tell you why. As you probably know, we maintain a secret wireless station on the Caribbean coast near Columbia. At least it's supposed to be secret. About twice a month we send an airplane down there with mail. These planes are supposed to fly first to Colon, then follow the Caribbean coast to the station. Just recently I sent a Lieutenant Arnold on the trip. He broke rules and flew straight across the interior. The clouds forced him to fly very low. When he returned, he reported orally to me that he had passed over a village in the interior which was inhabited by white-skinned people, living like Indians." (White Indians of Darien, Marsh, pp. 37-38)
When Mr. Marsh began his search he did in fact use two army planes in the process, unfortunately they had only one flight. Upon their return the new Army General in the Canal Zone refused further usage of his planes for such a worthless and dangerous venture.
Up until this time Mr. Marsh was a pure skeptic, he had heard the rumors of White Indians, of course but gave them the same validity as the rumors of a Man-Ape beast in the jungle as well. Eventually he charters a boat and his team travels up the inner river to the town of Yavisa, which consisted of only 50 ramshackle bamboo huts. While he was talking to the head man of Yavisa Mr. Marsh had his paradigm change before his eyes. "Across the narrow clearing were walking three young girls, perhaps fourteen to sixteen years old. They wore nothing but small loin-clothes. And their almost bare bodies were as White as any Scandinavian's. Their hair, falling loosely over their shoulders, was bright gold! Quickly and gracefully they crossed the open space and disappeared into the jungle. I turned to the negro headman in amazement. White Indians! The one tale of Latin America in which no respectable explorer dare to believe!
The headman did not seem to to consider the sight unusual. "They come from a tribe which lives in the mountains up the Chucunaque," he said in explanation. "Before this they haven't come so far down the valley. But a little time ago they built a house above our village, and families of them come down to trade with us. Some are white, Some are dark like other Indians."
"Take me to their house," I asked. The negro shook his head with great decision. "No. They would kill me," he said. "They will kill any black man if he goes near their house. But perhaps they will not kill you. You are white. Just follow the trail the girls took."
Without thinking of possible consequences I followed the trail into the jungle.
(White Indians of Darien, Marsh 1923 pg 25-26)
(Note: In reading the book "White Indians of Darien" I find that the Panama Negro's and White explorers for land or Gold, were very harsh to the native Indians of the regions, treating them very poorly, thus for protection in this region any Negro or even Whites could be killed by the natives due to the poor history between them.)
"The trail was a well-beaten path along the river-bank. After passing through dense jungle for a quarter of a mile it ended in a clearing on the edge of the water. In the center was a typical Indian house of the smaller type - Platform of split palms on posts six feet above the ground, thatched roof, open walls. A notched log served as front steps.
The three girls I had just seen were kneeling on the platform arranging some grass mats. At my appearance they jumped to their feet and seemed about to leap from the platform into the jungle beyond the house. I approached them slowly, smiling my best. Gradually their fear changed to curiosity, then to interest, then to friendliness. They began to giggle like school-girls and finally broke out into gay laughter, apparently more amused by my appearance than afraid of me.
I reached into my pockets and brought out a handful of shiny Panama dimes which I carried for just such occasions. Many tropical Indians value such coins as ornaments or make them into ear rings, bracelets, etc... The girls descended the notched log one by one and gathered around me with every expression of confidence. I divided the dimes among them, and they laughed over their new treasures like the trusting children they were.
I tried to talk to them in Spanish but got no response. Then I tried English, French, and some very crude German. Not that there was much chance that they would understand. But I didn't want to pass up any possibility. They shook their heads.
Their inability to talk any of my languages did not seem to shake their confidence in me. I examined their skin closely to make sure it was not colored artificially. It was not. I looked at their golden hair, which was of a much finer texture than the coarse hair of other Indians. Their eyes were hazel or bluish-brown."
(White Indians of Darien, Marsh 1923, pgs 27-28)
Mr. Marsh comments he got back to the boat about dusk, in relating his adventure to his fellow Rubber tree group he was scoffed at, they did not care, their mission was to find good land for growing rubber tree's not anything else. Later that night unable to sleep he leaves the boat and again rows the little dingy ashore. "Yavisa was asleep. Even by moonlight it looked like what it was - the hideaway of the descendants of runaway slaves and negro outlaws. I passed through the street of the filthy bamboo huts in a moment and found the trail I had taken by daylight. I had reached the little Indian hut in the clearing and was standing before the notched log before I realized the rashness and bad manners of my action. It was nearly midnight. No one in the jungle makes a call after dark for any ordinary reason. Certainly not in pajamas where young girls are involved. But I had come too far to turn back. To retreat suddenly, I thought, would be to admit that my motives were not the best. So I called and waved a white handkerchief. I knocked on the notched log. Not a sound from above. Then Suddenly the body of a full-grown man, whether white or dark I could not tell, crashed into the jungle from the platform. Then again total silence."
(White Indians of Darien, Marsh 1923, pgs 31-32)
Realizing his foolishness and the danger he had put himself in he returned to the boat, and that was the experience with these mysterious White Indians.
Over time, Mr. Marsh returned to the region with members of a team to help search out the White Indian's, Those who would push into the interior with him would be,
Professor John L. Baer, Anthropologist and Ethnologist of the Smithsonian Institution of Washington D.C. (Who later dies due to a sickness of unknown type in the interior on the Eastern beach of Panama in the San Blas area.)
Dr. C.M.Breder, Jr., ichthyologist and naturalist, representing the American Museum of Natural History, New York.
Dr. H.L.Fairchild, geologist, representing the University of Rochester, N.Y.
Dr. Raoul Brin, botanist, and soil expert, representing President Porras of Panama.
Charles Charlton, photographer. (These black and white photo's were taken by him during this expedition.) (They can be seen at the Smithsonian link here for a large amount of photo's of this trip)
A full list of others who went is also on page 40 of his book
(White Indians of Darien, Marsh 1923)In short they travel into the interior, meet many tribes of Indians and Mr. Marsh earns their friendship by his good will and his respect he shows them as fellow human beings, this become of great value later. During his months of travel and hardship in the jungle traveling from the Western Pacific coast of Panama to the Eastern Caribbean Ocean, which was a first time success for any non Indian to make. During all this time he never see's the elusive White Indians he searches for. He does find evidences of a more advanced civilization where in he saw pyramidal style mounds, some with stepped sides as we find in Myan style pyramids, only they were made of earth it seemed by his observations at the time.
After he reached the Eastern ocean, and the burial of Professor J.L. Baer. Mr. Marsh see's the hardship and turmoil of the Indians, and the harsh treatment by the Negro-Panamanians and their government. He suggest they form together and unite to protect themselves and gain a voice, they put together the Tule Declaration of Independence, by this show of love and respect and arranging Panamanian Doctors and medicines and vaccinations to help the Indians and many others actions, the Head Chief of the Tule tribes in San Blas does a historic thing for the Indians. It has been mentioned that due to the poor historical actions of the Whites, the White Indians fled to the mountains and jungles for safety as the Indian blamed them (due to their white skins) and sought to destroy them as they did the Spaniards. They even initiated a non-breeding program, forbidding whites to marry each other, to try to eliminate the White blood line in the Indians, however this White blood line is very strong and to this day still shows up. Well a group of Chief came and spoke with Mr. Marsh as he suggested upon his leaving San Blas to take a group of the Indians to witness to the Panama Government President Porras, and to the American government as well, he had suggested that if he had some proof of White Indians that could help public opinion in their favor in the America's. So on this day these Chiefs agreed to send a delegation.
"Do you still want to take some of us to Panama and to Washington?" he asked.
"Yes," I said. "I am still willing."
"What will we have to pay you?" asked Ina Pagina, (Interpreter for the Chiefs)
"Nothing," I said.
"How soon can you start?"
"As soon as I can get a boat."
"There is a big trader's yawl at Pinos Island," Said Ina Pagina. "Can you return on that?"
"Yes," I said.
Ina Pagina hesitated a moment. Then he looked at me very intently. "Do you still want to take with you some Chepu Tules - White Indians?"
"Yes," I said eagerly, hardly able to believe my ears.
(Note; up until this time since his first sightings he had not been allowed to see or find anymore White Indians)
"The people along the coast all want to see you," Said Ina Pagina. "There will be many Chepu Tules among them. You can take all you want."
They rose, shook hands gravely, and went back to their boat, leaving me in a state of bewildered exaltation.
(White Indians of Darien, Marsh 1923, pgs 195-196)
As mentioned above he had not seen any, however once he had gained the trust and confidence of the Indians and convinced them he was going to try to get them a square deal at Panama and Washington, the Chepu Tules were offered to him freely, as if they were the most ordinary things in the world.
Note: Also as a result of Mr. Marshes good will and behavior the rules against the Chepu Tules - White Indians were lifted, they were once again accepted into the Indian community fully.
One good man can make a difference to a whole nation. Mr. Marsh notes that they saw over 2000 of these White Indians in the next little while and he did bring some back with him to America, as can be seen in the photo's and history.
"All this time Mr. Marshes Friends the Harrises and Johnsons were collecting data about the Indians, both white and brown. Their efforts were made easy by intelligent and enthusiastic cooperation on the part of the Indians, who had previously resisted all attempts to study them. Among the more important discoveries was a book filled with native picture writing, which was brought in by a head priest. The characters were not mere allegorical pictures such as the Indians often draw, but actual hieroglyphics."
(White Indians of Darien, Marsh 1923, pgs 229-230)
Another story about these White Indians of the inner jungles comes from a Chief Mr. Marsh met this is the tale.
"These 'Magic Wallas,' said Chief Bibia, were a separate race entirely. They were very strong, powerful men, white with yealow hair. Their language was different from that of either the Cunas of the San Blas or the Chocoi. They possessed 'magic powers.' They could turn a rifle bullet away from a distance of ten feet. They could bring floods and earthquakes. And they could see what people were doing and thinking from a long way off.
"I asked him to described the Magic Wallas, and his description fitted exactly the trhee white girls I has seen at Yavisa. I said I wanted to find them. He said I would never see them again. They had all gone up to the very head of the Chucunaque. All the armis in the world could not go into the Walla country. The Wallas were not normal men, but were 'Spirit Men' who knew all kinds of magic and could not be conquered or killed. I told him I had stronger magic than that of the 'Magic Wallas.' He only shook his head."
(White Indians of Darien, Marsh 1923, pgs 126-127)
As mentioned above he had not seen any, however once he had gained the trust and confidence of the Indians and convinced them he was going to try to get them a square deal at Panama and Washington, the Chepu Tules were offered to him freely, as if they were the most ordinary things in the world.
Note: Also as a result of Mr. Marshes good will and behavior the rules against the Chepu Tules - White Indians were lifted, they were once again accepted into the Indian community fully.
One good man can make a difference to a whole nation. Mr. Marsh notes that they saw over 2000 of these White Indians in the next little while and he did bring some back with him to America, as can be seen in the photo's and history.
"All this time Mr. Marshes Friends the Harrises and Johnsons were collecting data about the Indians, both white and brown. Their efforts were made easy by intelligent and enthusiastic cooperation on the part of the Indians, who had previously resisted all attempts to study them. Among the more important discoveries was a book filled with native picture writing, which was brought in by a head priest. The characters were not mere allegorical pictures such as the Indians often draw, but actual hieroglyphics."
(White Indians of Darien, Marsh 1923, pgs 229-230)
Another story about these White Indians of the inner jungles comes from a Chief Mr. Marsh met this is the tale.
"These 'Magic Wallas,' said Chief Bibia, were a separate race entirely. They were very strong, powerful men, white with yealow hair. Their language was different from that of either the Cunas of the San Blas or the Chocoi. They possessed 'magic powers.' They could turn a rifle bullet away from a distance of ten feet. They could bring floods and earthquakes. And they could see what people were doing and thinking from a long way off.
"I asked him to described the Magic Wallas, and his description fitted exactly the three white girls I has seen at Yavisa. I said I wanted to find them. He said I would never see them again. They had all gone up to the very head of the Chucunaque. All the armies in the world could not go into the Walla country. The Wallas were not normal men, but were 'Spirit Men' who knew all kinds of magic and could not be conquered or killed. I told him I had stronger magic than that of the 'Magic Wallas.' He only shook his head."
(White Indians of Darien, Marsh 1923, pg 220)
Mr. March asked Ina Pagina a San Blas Coast Indian about the Wallas White Indians of the interior.
"Ina Pagina shook his head. The tribes of the interior were not under his control. he said definitely. They were fierce and warelike, and he thought they would kill any white man who entered their territory. Not even the coast Indians could go into the territory of the Walla and Mortis. As for white Indians, he thought there werew some living on the upper reaches of the Rio Diablo, but most of them lived in Colombia."
As mentioned above he had not seen any, however once he had gained the trust and confidence of the Indians and convinced them he was going to try to get them a square deal at Panama and Washington, the Chepu Tules were offered to him freely, as if they were the most ordinary things in the world.
Note: Also as a result of Mr. Marshes good will and behavior the rules against the Chepu Tules - White Indians were lifted, they were once again accepted into the Indian community fully.
One good man can make a difference to a whole nation. Mr. Marsh notes that they saw over 2000 of these White Indians in the next little while and he did bring some back with him to America, as can be seen in the photo's and history.
"All this time Mr. Marshes Friends the Harrises and Johnsons were collecting data about the Indians, both white and brown. Their efforts were made easy by intelligent and enthusiastic cooperation on the part of the Indians, who had previously resisted all attempts to study them. Among the more important discoveries was a book filled with native picture writing, which was brought in by a head priest. The characters were not mere allegorical pictures such as the Indians often draw, but actual hieroglyphics."
(White Indians of Darien, Marsh 1923, pgs 229-230)
Another story about these White Indians of the inner jungles comes from a Chief Mr. Marsh met this is the tale.
"These 'Magic Wallas,' said Chief Bibia, were a separate race entirely. They were very strong, powerful men, white with yealow hair. Their language was different from that of either the Cunas of the San Blas or the Chocoi. They possessed 'magic powers.' They could turn a rifle bullet away from a distance of ten feet. They could bring floods and earthquakes. And they could see what people were doing and thinking from a long way off.
"I asked him to described the Magic Wallas, and his description fitted exactly the trhee white girls I has seen at Yavisa. I said I wanted to find them. He said I would never see them again. They had all gone up to the very head of the Chucunaque. All the armis in the world could not go into the Walla country. The Wallas were not normal men, but were 'Spirit Men' who knew all kinds of magic and could not be conquered or killed. I told him I had stronger magic than that of the 'Magic Wallas.' He only shook his head."
(White Indians of Darien, Marsh 1923, pg 181)
There is a lot of information and theories by experts back in the mid 1920's about who or how these Indians could be a form of mutation, albino, interbreeding at some historical point in history, or just a race evolving from dark to light a form of evolution. The anthropologists of science really could not decide at the time. However there is some interesting things when the linguistic experts recorded and documented the language of those San Blas Indians brown and white who came to America.
"Three leading scientists and linguists, Dr. Harrington, ethnologist of the Smithsonian, Vogenitz, the linguistic expert of the Post Office Department, and Dr. Gates, of Tulane University, a recognized authority on Mayan culture, lived at our house with the Indians and made detailded studies of their ethnology and language. A vocabulary of six thousand Tule words was developed. Their lanquage was recorded on dictaphone records. A system of phonetic writing was devised, and a thorough analysis made of it. Finally the linguists came to me and reported, "The anthropologists can tell you what they please, Marsh, but some ancient Norse people certainly taught the Tule People their Language." They found that the Tule language had a Sanskrit or Aryan structure, not mongoloid, and they discovered over sixty words identical with early Norse. For details of the Tule language I refer the reader to the appendix of this book."
(Note: sadly in my library copy of his book there is No appendix so it will be further searching to find one.)
One thing is for certain there are many stories of White Indians through out Latin America. I find more questions instead of answers as I study deeper on this topic. Some have assumed they could have been remnants of those peoples spoken of in the Book of Mormon, a pre-European, Columbian group of white Hebrews who came to the early America's, Or could these have been lost Phoneticians blown off course whose writings have been found on the coast of Brazil. Other evidences of who or where this ancient race of whites could have come from still show up. It's claimed they have a Norse base in their language, and physical traits as well. But most is just theory as a lot of science and archaeology tends to be.
In some of these stories we find evidences of 'Magic', could this just be a form of modern technology, primitive tribes would and have called our every day technology ' Magic' until its explained to them.
So in other postings I found evidence of possible planes found in Egypt as well as Columbia, I now find that interesting, here we have the 'Wallas' reported to have 'Magic' modern technology possibly, a lot who may live or come from Columbia's deep jungles and now evidence of archaeological finds of small planes in Columbia. This opens more theory and questions but one must think on it, is there any connections in these stories.
Could they be a part of Plato's lost Atlantis or Lemuria survivors? Or some unknown civilization that disappeared long ago that we have yet to find or hear about.
This other story comes from a researcher into ancient and modern Native American lore, she set out to find the stories of who the great white pale prophet who walked the America's could have been, and she found over her 30 years of research many things, and this is just one account in her book "He Walked the America's" By Taylor Hansen (A link to purchase a copy is at the bottom of this blog to learn more of her amazing research) this is a story she discovered by pure accident. I am learning that is how most discoveries actually happen.
"The Scarab Ring"
"ONE OF THE most illuminating stories of the Prophet began with a scarab ring.
The lights were low and the conversation was interspersed with the tinkle of glasses as this rather boresome banquet when the woman who sat beside me held up her wine glass for a refilling. That is when I saw the scarab ring. It was like and yet unlike that of the Egyptian for it was cut in jade. I had never known jade to be used by the Egyptians. She was quick to notice my interest and took it off for me to see it better. Her words anticipated my question.
"No, it is not Egyptian. The ring is Mayan and it came from the Rain Well of the Ancients."
"Then it was worn by a bride of the Rain God before she was hurled to her death in the water?"
"Ah, I see you know my people."
"Your people? You most certainly are a Caucasian."
"Indeed I am, and so is my husband, but long ago we tired of this world and retired to another in the Mayan jungle."
"How did it happen?"
"We were flying our plane over the jungles. We were so fascinated with the lifted line of the highways and the living peaks which mark the pyramids, for they are also marked by the rise of the jungle. You know that there are hundreds of unknown ruins?"
"So I have been told, But how did you..."
"We ran out of gas."
"That is the hard was to begin an adventure."
"We did not exactly seek the Mayans, We were thrust upon them. It was years before we got out of the jungles, older and wiser than when we entered, for we saw things never seen by 'White Man' and indeed unguessed even by writers."
"Could you unbend to tell me a trifle?"
"Only if our name is never mentioned."
"It has already been forgotten."
"We came upon living Mayan cities, unknown and undreamed of by modern peoples. Here they live in the ancient splendor, but disguised so that the airplanes will not see them. They wish no contact with your world, and if they knew we had told, then they would kill us."
"Do they still have books, and can they read them?"
She turned and consulted with her husband.
"We cannot answer that question."
"Very well, Tell me about the highways."
"The whole land is networked with them. Many of them are better than your best highways, if once they were to be freed from the jungle. They are built of cement much harder than you use which had been laid on a nie - foot flagging of sandstone. They are from sixty to a hundred feet wide."
"Why are the Mayans afraid to meet us, and why do they stay in hiding?"
"You have read of course of the Conquest?"
"But that was back in the Sixteenth Century."
"Have you ever heard of the Prophet? Of Hurukan or Zac-Mutul, the Mighty, which in Mayan means the Saintly One Who Worshipped No Idols?"
"Do you mean the Plumed Serpent?"
"I do indeed."
Her husband leaned across her.
"Have you heard of The Predictions?"
"You mean He foretold the coming of White Man?"
"Then you know what they know - that White Man's cycle is not yet over. He told them to wait and stay hidden."
"Yes, I know, but..."
"Before that He predicted the return of the Sacrificers?"
"An amazing foretelling of the rise of the Aztecs."
"Well, these people of ours are the White Priesthood," she answered. "They are the People who follow the Prophet. They fled before the rise of the Aztecs."
"Fantastic."
Again she turned to her husband.
"You are not now going to stop talking? Turn not from the thirsty when you have water. I have followed this Legend across two continents."
"Very well, we will tell you a little. The High Priest whose title is Ah-Pope, is dressed like Quetzal-Coatl from the white mantle to the golden sandals. Did you know it was from our people that He accepted the wide waist wrap: a long cloth heavy with golden embroidery and encrusted with jewels, worn wrapped above the waistline? he accepted it as His badge of office, and carried it with Him across the ocean."
"Yes, I knew that in Yucatan He added it to His costume."
":I have seen the Hand Kabul, and about that I shall not comment. I have a strange veneration for the Prophet, and I do not wish to talk about Him. But I will tell you this: on top of the pyramids burns a sacred fire - not the one worshiped by the Sacrificers but the very fire first lighted by the Prophet."
"Tell me the religion of these pyramids."
"The Mayan's are a friendly people, but they will not tell explorers or tourists about their pyramids. If you should ask them about the Thirteen Steps to the Fire, they will say that each is some god which they have forgotten, but behind their hands, the people are smiling, Only if like us, you live among them, and then join their worship, will you learn what the pyramid stands for.
"The Sacred Fire which was lighted almost two thousand years ago is tended by the Ah-Pope or the reighning Kate-Zahl and his twelve disciples. They have been chosen from the time of the Prophet by the 'Laying on of hands' one to the other, and each is chosen for his great soul-stature. It takes real soul-stature to reach the Fire.
"The Ah-Pope hears confessions if the people wish to give them, and advises his flock in all their ways of living. He presides at weddings, baptismals and burials. He blesses the animals in the springtime and the seeds for planting. In the fall he blesses the crops for the Thanksgiving ceremony.
"Those who do not get close to the people never learn the meaning of the pyramid, as I said. It is a religion of daily living, not words to be mouthed on Sunday and forgotten on Monday. Every step upward is an honor to be earned. Yet it is also possible to step down, and is much more easily done than to go up. The lowest step is the fundamental Step of the entire religion, as taught by the Prophet.
1) Commit no petty act. As you would be treated so treat your fellow. You cannot follow this religion and the law of the jungle. If in your life you follow the law of the jungle, then walk away.
"The other steps are as follows:
2) Seek the spirit of truth, Never accept half-truths. Upon this foundation build your life and thought, your work and worship.
3) Of the work of your existence, do your own share. No man or woman can hope to enter blessedness borne upon the backs of servants.
"Those are the fundamentals. The next seven steps of the pyramid are the Ten Commandments in identical order except that they are condensed. The last three steps are not only secret, but they demand a soul so saintly that none but the finest may ever surmount them. As the Plumed Serpent said:
"Many hear the call but few are chosen."
"One of the greatest tasks of the Plumed Serpent is to conduct the chants. The work of this he may divide up among his pristhood. One of those chants was spoken by the people when the Healer was leaving the country. It is hauntingly like one I learned at my mother's knee in childhood.
"On Thanksgiving we chant this before the pyramid:
"We bring to thee, oh Father, divine spirit who has no image, this fruit of our yearly labor, as of old thine own son taught us. Bless these seeds, oh most holy, that we may make the earth more fruitful. Bless this corn, oh most powerful, and help us live up to thy instructions."
Her husband leaned toward me again.
"My wife may be talking too much. She gets carried away. Let me say this, They pyramid symbolizes the spiritual life of the soul. This religion leaves no loopholes for double- dealing or cheating to hide, be forgiven and continue a dozen times, Insincerity breaks the fundamental First Law. This is a living religion and one is daily reminded of the holy man who came here with His wealth of geographical knowledge, and His ability to speak perhaps a thousand languages, yet His warm humanity, His great lvoe and fineness of soul are reflected in these His people, so that He lives for you even in the Twentieth Century. It is something like a miracle. Yes, our little heaven is a sort of lost Shangri-la, and we shall never disclose its location."
There was a kind of finality in his voice, so I addressed my next question to her.
"Just one more question: could you tell me something of His departure?"
She hesitated a moment and then with a few brief sentences painted the picture of that sad day of parting, while I marveled that such a vivid scene could come down through the centuries with all the freshness of a yesterday. He nudged her arm and she stopped, smiling at me apologetically. However, I noticed that she pulled out a sheet of scratch paper, which later turned out to be a bill, and scribbled something on the back. This she pressed into my hand as we left, and to keep him from knowing, if it was important, I said laughingly: "Just think what I might have missed if it had not been for a scarab ring."
(He Walked the Americas, Taylor Hansen, pp 176-181)
I add this to show that we have heard in the above stories that Mr. Marsh heard that there was indeed hidden active live Mayan cities in the early 1920's filled with people, in the early days of air flight, now we hear this story years later that confirms such cities exist and that they now hide the cities from view by air.
I find this interesting, not to mention this does follow many other stories on this site about a Pale Prophet who resembles by action, word, deed, teachings, Jesus Christ. As for the reader it is left up to them to choose to follow the facts, legends of many over many years, and archaeological evidences or the theories one grows up with. Eventually one must accept I would think the possibilities that there is much more to life and history on this Earth than most will ever know.
For every answer we find more questions, thus is the process of learning, and sharing.
Stephen Huls
These last 3 photo's are more recent, discovered on Felipe Argote Blog. With a story about this topic.
Have been thinking on the possibilities or theory about how a lot of the Root words of these San Blas White Indians of Darien could have been Norse. There is evidences that state the Norsemen did in fact live in North America in the Great Lakes region, Could it be possible that some ancient Norsemen migrated to the Meso America region as well.
ReplyDeleteYou see there is Strong evidence that the Hopewell culture and others in North America did trade with the Ancient cities of Latin America's. So it would only be normal for some to move into the place where the trade was happening, a mixing of some of the culture or races. This could be a reason for the Norse influence in this culture, if the Norse traded with a remanent of the Hopewell who still traded with the Tule Cities then naturally there would be a mixture of culture, or if a colony of Norse / Hopewell Both White races predominately then moved into the lands of their trading partners it could explain both the white blood lines and the language mixture we find and with the story of the inner Walla White Indians having a completely different speech to that of the Brown Indians of Darien another this could explain that as well.
Fact is until we have sufficient DNA sampling of the San Blas, and the Inner Walla's we may never really know their origins. So I state that needs to be done at some day to help put this puzzle together.
Hi, I would like to bring your attention to a piece of this puzzle found in Borikén (Puerto Rico). As the story goes (I can't remember all of it but I'll try to do my best), in the town of Guayanilla, in south-southeast of Borikén, a dying female indian elder, told an old friar called Padre Nazario about a secret that had been kept guarded by generations in her family. It was about a treasure they hid under a rock near a river. She told her were to dig and he found around 800 small rocks up to a foot in diameter some a little bigger that wete full of inscriptions in an unknown language. The latest studies indicate a hebrew origin of the language. They are on display at a museum in Guayanilla and I can provide you with some photos. Or you can google: biblioteca de Agueybaná. Agueybaná was the main cacique (chief) of the Jíbaro (taíno) people and he started the independent movement that continues to this day.
DeleteThey are Albinos .
ReplyDelete"myvidaloka said... They are Albinos ."
ReplyDeleteInteresting this is probably the 1st thought of most people through out the years, even back then Robert O. Marsh thought the same thing however the Educated folks after examining them discovered they were not Albinos.
However their Skin, eyes etc. do not match that of any Albinos.
But of normal White races that had inter-mixed with the natives in some distant past time. This has been proven they cannot be Albino's, as well as the thousands of others scattered through out South, Central American lands these tribes of Fair skinned people and their history, legends and myths exist. Some day their full history will come forth to be shared with us for it is written and kept in their sacred places to be brought forth when told to do so by the Creator in the near future, it will be interesting to read.
This is wonderful! My great grandfather is Richard O. Marsh. My master's thesis was republishing of his book, with an addendum to it that I collected in my travels to Panama. Thank you for sharing this information about my great grandfather!
ReplyDeleteYour welcome, I just saw this been busy. I found his book very interesting and informative about many things in his time period.
DeleteMany have quoted various things over the years, so I was pleased to finally find one for sale in the UK, that I could read. (Missing the addendum in this version sadly) but I like to find the oldest resources on subjects as I look into them. Your G.Great grandfather was a very interesting person, and I am sure there is much more to his story.
The book is worth buying / reading for anyone interested in the topic, as well as rubber trees, early Panama politics and unrest with the natives and why.
R.O.Marsh risked a lot to help the natives before he left Panama, I wonder if the 'shoot on sight' by the New Panama President ever was rescinded. As they did not like what Marsh did to help the natives when the Panama Gov was so harsh on them.
Well I hope I represented his work in a good way.
Thanks for your comment.
"However their skin, eyes etc. do not match that of any Albinos."
ReplyDeleteThat's very interesting, because from the photographs that is exactly what they appear to be. Nothing separates them by phenotype from the rest of their tribe (based on what has been presented) other than the fact that they are incredibly pale, which is to say, they are differentiated only by the absence of pigmentation in their skin. Full albinism will leave you with red eyes, but varying degrees of it can cause the eyes to be anywhere from blue to green to hazel. The same goes for hair color.
The point that I'm trying to make is, the only thing that makes them different is the extreme contrast in their coloration. Other than that, they show no special characteristics - same nose, same build, same facial structure, hair type - nothing to suggest mixed ancestry. While the prevalence and localization of this condition makes it very interesting, it would appear to be albinism none the less.
Still, the high prevalence of the condition might suggest some truth to the mythology of the light-skinned americans. Perhaps some form of albinism was endemic and common to that ancient population? Or, at least, the condition was known well enough that the mythology, though false, was built around some truth.
I'm not trying to knock down Mr. Marsh's research, just adding in what I see. I will say, though, that the second source ("He Walked the Americas") appears to be highly suspect. Besides, by hereditary transfer, the light skin (if the ancestor was a light-skinned, non-albino) would quickly be lost to subsequent generations if the light-skinned population mixed with a darker group. It wouldn't just pop up so many generations later in such high contrast, unless it was a genetic mutation that overrides the normal genetic coding for skin pigmentation or circumvents it entirely - i.e. albinism.
Regardless of my views on the matter, thank you for posting on Mr. Marsh's research in such detail.
Stephen, I plan on writing an article on my blog on this fascinating subject and was wondering if you could tell me if the fact that Marsh's book was published in 1934 makes its contents public domain? I, too, would like to show a few pictures, but don't want to violate any copyright.
ReplyDeleteI understand now, that the pictures you have of the white Indians did not come from Marsh's book; probably from an archive of his? Can you tell me if they fall under public domain?
ReplyDeletejust saw this, not sure..found them through the Smithsonian and other articles. the copy of his book I have is a library version, only 1 of 2 I found for sale few years ago.
ReplyDeleteI think, not home to check have boy in hospital with cancer. but just shared as this...not sure about public domain legal issue stuff, as I am not selling or profiting from sharing these stories / research.
Hope your kid is well
DeleteI have the copyright of my Great Grandfather's book. Paid for it. :) I also have most of his photos and letters from this time frame. His name is Richard, not Robert, O. Marsh.
ReplyDeleteHello, Im a filmmaker living in Panama, and Im making a research About your Great Grandfather´s journey, I want to make a documentary about it, do you think you could share with me, some information about it?
DeleteHola. Interesante el libro de su bisabuelo. Estoy investigando la contribución de Marsh en la Revolución kuna. Me gustaría su apoyo. Saludos desde Kunayala.
DeleteThese ppl are simply suffering of albinism, so much for the mystery. I mean, seriously, isnt that clear enuff?
ReplyDeleteThat's not albinism. There is a race of tall white Indians not albinism that live in the mountains of Columbia. They are not albinos and are extremely healthy Caucasian looking peoples.
ReplyDeleteThere is simply no way if this was true that you would know this and others don't. If this were true no one in this world could stop people from going down there to see. Every news organization on earth would be occupying that whole country looking for them, and if they were there they would have been found long ago.
DeleteIt is albinism.
ReplyDeleteIt is albinism.
ReplyDeleteGreat stories but Caucasians dont all have blond hair not the Swedes nor the Norwegians or any other whites anywhere. Their faces are clearly Indian with albino skin. God bless you but sorry its very clear.
ReplyDeleteThere is NO WAY they are albinos. Not with blue eyes!!!! They are a separate race.
ReplyDeletehttps://aapos.org/terms/conditions/12
Deleteit is albinism. it exists with all races.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe anyone is reading a book from 1924 as if it were accurate. It's nearly 100 years old! No one had knew anything about DNA yet! Several things have changed in the science of inheritance and albinism since then, folks. try reading an article, perhaps:
ReplyDeletehttps://doi.org/10.1016/S0929-693X(98)80136-X
Oculocutaneous albinism: clinical, historical and anthropological clarifications
P.Jeambrun
Archives de Pédiatrie
Volume 5, Issue 8, August 1998, Pages 896-907
here's the abstract in english:
---
Albinism represents a group of inherited abnormalities of the melanin pigment system in which the synthesis of melanin is absent or reduced, generalized (oculocutaneous albinism) or localised (ocular albinism). Recent molecular studies provide insight into the pathophysiological processes of pigmentation regulation and help our understanding of the genetic heterogeneity of human albinism. It rarely affects Europeans, frequently Africans, only a minority of Amerindians, who nevertheless, when an ethnic group is concerned, presents one of the highest incidence in the world. Historically, the African albinos were used as an alibi by the European theologians to support Adam 's descent of humanity and by naturalists to affirm the alleged superiority of the white men. Anthropological data are mainly issued from Amerindians with contradictories attitudes towards albinos: both acceptance and rejection. Only the Kuna of Panama have given albinos a major place in their mythology, although in reality they frequently reject them.
As a pre-med student, we use soruces well over a 100 years old that are stil very accurate.
ReplyDeleteEisteins theory of relatively... 1905, newtons laws of physics... need i say more.
Dna may be new, but here at my school, the one in charge of the human genome project, has done extenaive research on this particular phenomenon.
For other sources of encounters. See Jack West's work "the Ancient Ruins of America" and his "The Trial of the Stick of Joseph both by Zion publishing.
ReplyDeleteSome of these folks here are childish and short sites to believe the white indians/natives of Darien to be albinos is childish and they are with out knowledge and baseless, as there study and thought is not deep...
One curious thought is that in "The Book of Mormon another testament of Jesus Christ" translated from and record of antiquity printed way back in 1829... lol. In it Lehi Promises a family member Joseph his youngest son that if he were righteous and his descendants like Nephi they would not utterly be destroyed. As part of the family became less fair as termed and a mark set on them (as broad as warpaint markings and in areas considered dark and loathsome/unapealing to those of the fairer part to keep them from intermarriage. This difference continued till all came in harmony at Christs appearance, but at some point an new anti Christian group appeared and the old differences continued. They tried to destroy all the white Christians some did flee south who Moroni thought were destroyed perhaps they were spared and preserved as promised by Lehi. 2 Nephi 3 v 3
3 And now, Joseph, my last-born, whom I have brought out of the wilderness of mine afflictions, may the Lord bless thee forever, for thy seed shall not utterly be destroyed
I think they may be Josephites, and descended from the Joseph of Jacob/Israel. As Lehi was descended from Manasseh and Joseph's wife's house from Ephraim.
Mormon fairy tales.... LOL
ReplyDelete