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ABSTRACT This paper describes how and when Croatians, as a member of the Dubrovnik fleet which was serving under the command of the Spanish navy, came for the first time to the American soil. In Croatian and foreign archives, exist exact data and written documents dating from 16th century. The Dubrovnik fleet is described at the time of the discovery of America and how they found the inscription in today’s North Carolina dating from the 16th century. There are also several language clues found in a letter written by a Croatian emigrant to the mayor of the city of Dubrovnik (1936). INTRODUCTION As I have recently visited North America, namely New York City, I remembered a dear friend of mine, a doctor (MD) from Dubrovnik, who gave me an ancient document on the first Croatians who, supposedly, set foot on the American soil. Naturally, it was about the Dubrovnik fleet that, serving under the command of the Spanish fleet, participated in the discovery of America. And on the Indians named so because they believed that is India. I consider that parts of this work should be shared with the Croatian public (and others if interested) since I find this matter quite fascinating. DUBROVNIK FLEET AT THE TIME OF THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA Written texts regarding the Dubrovnik maritime transport, dating from the 12th century, are saved at the National Archives in Dubrovnik. At first, ships from Dubrovnik sailed across the Mediterranean Sea. Later, when the sea route to India around Africa was discovered and especially after the discovery of America, the center of the international trading moved towards the oceans. The Dubrovnik fleet adjusted to the new circumstances and built big transoceanic vessels. From the mid-15th and particularly during the 16th century, the Dubrovnik fleet became one of the largest in the world. Only the Spanish and the Dutch fleets were bigger. At the beginning of the 16th century, Palladius Foscus wrote that not one corner of Europe was too distant for the merchants of Dubrovnik, who had had over three hundred ships. In 1573 in Venice, Ivan M. Sagri published a book on sea currents in the Atlantic Ocean. It was written by his brother Nikola Sagri, the captain of the largest Dubrovnik ship called «S. Spiritus et Sancta Maria di Loreto». Among other things, it reported of the Dubrovnik fleet, which consisted of almost one hundred ships, stating that their ships «cut the waves across the seas all over the world»[1]. One of the biggest ships from Dubrovnik was described by Serafin Razzi, an Italian humanist and writer. On September 11th, 1557 he visited the ship that had been brought to anchor in the city of Vasto in Abruzo, Italy. He said it was the largest ship sailing the seas, carrying 1200 cartloads of grain, with the crew of 140 men. He admired its grandeur and beauty: its main room had a carved, painted and gilded ceiling. The adjacent room was a saloon where the ceiling was painted «in roses». The ship had three masts with baskets on top and rope ladders for climbing. From all noted previously it is obvious that in the 16th century Dubrovnik had one of the most powerful fleets in the world. In addition to numerous coastal vessels that sailed the Adriatic sea, Dubrovnik had huge transoceanic ships that sailed across the world and their seamen’s knowledge of the Atlantic ocean was exceptional. Thanks to their sailing qualities and accomplishments, our sailors gained an outstanding reputation at the time. Even Shakespeare mentioned them in his verses. This powerful fleet never had any invasive colonial tendencies or goals like Spain, Portugal, France, Netherlands and England. It only had one interest – to profit from maritime transport. Spain, as the firs country which discover America, took possession of the entire New World, with the Roman Pope’s blessing. With that they became the most important Western European country and the ruler of the seas, controlling several coastal countries and territories. The Dubrovnik ships, under the command of the Spanish navy, were involved in Spanish expeditions and sea wars. Consequently, as the seamen from Dubrovnik were included in conquering the city of Corunna (1532), Algeria (1541), the expedition to Tunisia etc., it can be assumed that our seamen were among the first to arrive at the newly discovered territories, including the Americas. The Dubrovnik ships also took part in the battle of Levant in 1571, serving to the Spanish. A member of the Martolosić family from the island of Lopud, participated in the discovery of the continent as a pilot.[2] Members of the Ohmučević family also worked for the Spain and Petar Ohmučević-Ivelja took part in the siege of Lisbon and some actions in America, called India at the time. He was appointed the General captain of India. Another distinguished seaman Vice Bune from the island of Lopud was highly respected by the Spanish king who sent him to India as his emissary and even appointed him the Viceking of Mexico.[3] For such services, the Republic of Dubrovnik was granted special privileges regarding free sailing and trading. Around ten certified copies of these privileges are saved in the National Archives in Dubrovnik. Other seamen from Dubrovnik who served under the Spanish command were treated with great honours and respect by the Spanish. Spain forbade other nations to trade in the New World, firmly guarding its newly acquired possessions in the West India or elsewhere. Only Spanish and Dubrovnik ships were allowed to visit Spanish properties and lands in the New World. In 1597 and 1588 captain Mateo Letiele from Dubrovnik sailed from Cadisco to India, modern day America. The document relating to these voyages was signed by Pavao Ivanov Malitia and Marko Petrov, both from Dubrovnik, situated in Cadisco at the time.[4] In his book «Land of Silent People»[5] St John mentioned ships from Dubrovnik, saying that sailors from Dubrovnik – known as the «Aragosy» – were among the others the first who came to the San Francisco Bay. According to that, we can draw a conclusion that karaka ships from Dubrovnik, with approximately 140 crew members, sailed the seas, suffered damages or were destroyed by hurricanes, sailing along the undiscovered east coast, all the way to North America. Those who survived probably disembarked to the unknown land and settled there. There are documents from the 16th century reporting on several men from Dubrovnik who emigrated and settled in the newly discovered territories in America. In 1520 two brothers Mato and Dominiko Konkegjević emigrated from the island of Koločep and went to the West Indies (America) and lived there for more than thirty years. THE MYSTERIOUS APPEARANCE OF INSCRIPTION «CROATOAN» As the first Europeans arrived at today’s America, they met tribes which apparently belonged to the same race of Asian origins [6], their civilisation at different stages of development. Among many native tribes that lived along the Atlantic Ocean coastline, there was one called Virginia.[7] According to Ptolemai’s geography book «Apalchen» from 1598, the state of Virginia was named like this tribe. Explorers called all the native groups Indians because the geographers of the time believed that India has been situated in the western Atlantic.[8] Following the age of Christopher Columbus and especially during the 16th century, a large number of daring seamen explored the new continents. First English expeditions aiming to establish new colonies in today’s North Carolina were fruitless. First English colonies had disappeared without trace and the only thing left behind was the word «CROATAN» carved into a tree trunk. In 1581 Sir Walter Raleigh appeared at the English castle. Soon he became famous because of battles against Irish rebels. His dream was to found an English colony to match and oppose Spanish expansion in the New World. In order to do so, he asked for a permission of the queen for an expedition to North America to found English settlements. He was granted a royal charter by the queen authorizing him to explore and colonise any new territories. Sir Raleigh was not put in charge of the expedition. The first English expedition was led by Philip Adams and Arthur Barlow and they found a colony on the island of Roanoka in 1584 known as «Roanoka colony». The Indian tribes they found there were called Manteo and Wanchese. Reports from a book called «Voyages» state: « We saw children who had had the finest chestnut hue skin and brownish hair»[9]. Based on these first reports, Hawks concluded that the Europeans have probably already been there, before the arrival of Adams and Barlow. Other natives’ complexion was yellowish-brown, their faces flat, their hair thick and black like the Mongolians’. The natives explained as follows: «Twenty six years ago, in 1558, an unknown ship carrying white people was destroyed near Secotan… Some of the crew members were saved by the natives … After spending several weeks on Wocoton (Ocroake), they tried to sail on a fragile natives’ raft. Perhaps they died. Their boats were soon found stranded next another island not far from Wocoton». The natives said about another wrack which was found on the coast; wounded in shipwreck some six years previously and that could have been in 1564. No one survived but the Indians. Two months later the expedition went back to England and took Manteo and Wanches with them. On arriving to England, the two of them were introduced to the Queen Elisabeth. Another English expedition, which took Manteo and Wanches back home, reached the island of Roanoke on July 3rd, 1584.[10]. In the reports on this expedition the name «Croatan» showed up for the first time. It related to Manteo’s place of birth – an island by the same name. Indeed, some old maps marked an island called Croatoan lying between the Cookon horn and the Hatteras horn, the island of Ocracoke south of it. The third English expedition, also organised and equipped by Sir Walter Raleigh and led by J. White in 1587, sailed in the same direction. When they reached their destination, they learned from some friendly Indians that the fifteen men left from the previous expedition have been died.[11] Manteo was baptised on August 13th, 1587 and given the title of the Lord of Roanoka by White who had been appointed the Governor of the New Territories. In addition to that, Manteo became the chieftain of the Roanoka tribe. Five days later White’s granddaughter Eleonor gave birth to a baby girl. To honour the first white child born and baptised in North America, she was named Virginia Dare[12]. White returned to England on August 27th, 1587 leaving the colony on the island. Three years later, on August 15th,1590 he came back with the supplies. However, he found nothing but grass and a smouldering hearth. There were letters CRO carved into one of the tree trunks and the word CROATOAN into another. Unfortunately, stormy weather prevented them from further exploration and they had to return to England[13]. Nobody knows what has happened to the first Anglo-Saxon colonists and why they disappeared. The first attempt to establish an English colony was unsuccessful. LANGUAGE CLUES Apart from the unexplained historical data regarding the word CROATOAN, there exists also certain fascinating language clues found in a letter written by Josip Cuculić, an imigrant from Chicago, to the mayor of the city of Dubrovnik on May 31st, 1936. In one of the Chicago libraries Mr Cuculić has found a small book written by an officer of the USA army some hundred years previously. In it, Cuculić red about the Croatan Indians and wrote: »…and now what intrigues me more than an average American is that I have found lots of words similar to Croatian words in the book. Their similarity is fascinating. They coincide in meaning, spelling and pronunciation. I believe you will also find it interesting so I here present some of them. Gundulić’s dialect of Croatian language has been used so I’m confident that the vessel had come from Dubrovnik.» The following are some of the Croatian words used by the Croatan Indians from the above mentioned book: With the Atlantic, they don’t pronounce «r» as «r» but as «j» a sin YOURNAL (jojnal). HROATAN (CROATIAN) ISLAND CROATIAN ISLAND The descendants of Kroat (Croatan) Indians still live in the USA. According to Josip Cuculić’s letter, the above book also stated that a ship came near the Hatteras Horn in 1541 but broke against the reefs and the shipwreck victims went ashore. Eventually they became friends with the natives, married their girls and called themselves Croatan Indians. In time, their descendants spread all over the USA and Canada, reaching some 800 000 to 2 million in numbers. Some became congressmen and senators. It is said that the former president of the USA Coolidge (1923-1929) was one of them, his surname possibly originating from Kulić or Kucić. Many American politicians wanted to classify the Croatan Indians as black people (which used to be a degrading status but would be quite the opposite today with the president Obama in the White House) but they have always opposed such classification and finally the politicians gave in. Nowadays, these white descendants live in Virginia and have 30 national schools in Robinson and Sampson Counties. Louis Adamich, an American writer of Yugoslavian origin, wrote a book on all the nations populating the USA. At page 235 of his book, talking about Americans from Yugoslavia (the book had been written before Yugoslavia dissolved) he stated that our nations (without specifying the nations from former Yugoslavia) were the integral part of the history of the USA. As the above documents testify, Croatoan Indians were involved in the stories (translated as Croatian Indians) and the word CROATAN was inscribed in a tree so we are inclined to believe that it must be the Croatian nation. According to his book, the Croatan Indians live in Robeson County in North Carolina where there are still people who call themselves Croats and assert to be the descendants of Croatan tribes. Another branch of the descendants lives in West Virginia and the Cumberland area in Maryland. Manteo, one of the Croatan Indians, eventually returned to his homeland, became a chieftain and titled Lord. His name could be a variety of Croatian male names Mateo or Mate, quite frequent names in Dalmatia. Another matter worth mentioning is as follows. Some of our constructors were involved in the building of the Suez Canal (1859-1869). They stayed in Port Tewfik near a place called Suez, in a quarter called «Croati» and this quarter still exists under the same name. This points out that our nation has always been connected with the names CROATOAN, CROATAN and CROATI in all the corners of the world. The above mentioned book on Croatan Indians found in a Chicago library by Josip Cuculić should be given proper attention and carefully examined. Thomas Hariot, a scientist who participated in the second expedition, took Manteo under his wing, taught him English and learned some basics of Croatian language from Manteo. Hariot studied people of the region and on returning to England in 1588 he wrote a book «Brefe and a True Report on the Newly Discovered Land of Virginia «. This book too should be taken into consideration as a source of historical data regarding the first white settlers in the region around the Hatteras Horn, in spite of many foreign scientists’ opinion (as they are not necessarily right). There is a strong possibility that our sailors were the first white people who populated the area around the Hatteras Horn in the USA. It is up to our scientists to do their job and research this matter properly knowing that – being a maritime nation – the Croatians have been quite interested in it. CONCLUSION This work is based on written documents and pieces of information whose credibility is unquestionable. They have been kept in national libraries, Croatian as well as foreign. The select bibliography is as follows. SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY G.M. Sagri: Debating the diversity of the western ocean Nicole Sagria Collection, Venice, 1574th, Manuscripts Serafino Razzi, Travel, preswerved in the National Library in Florence, Resetar, Dubrovnik ship XVI century, Dubrovnik 1908th, no. 13, pages 1-3, Razzi, A trip to Abruzzo, Firenze 1969, Krasic, Serafin razzi and Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik horizons, Zagreb 1971., No. 7-8, pages 26-30, Foretić, Our share of people in general to foreign navies and maritime affairs through the centuries, maritime antology, I, Zagreb, 1962., pages: 269-301 Tadic: The first immigrants to America, Politics, Belgrade, Easter number, 1940., page 8, Ptolomy: Geography, Universal description of the country, Venezia, D.M. 1598th, Chapter XXXIII, America or description „Indian“ on page 205, Maurois: History of the United States, 1942nd to 1952nd, Naprijed, Zagreb, 1960., page 12, Francais L. Hawks: History of North Carolina, Fayetevile: E.J. Hale&Son, 1857., I, page 80, Full report of Amadas and Barlow, re-inscribed by R. Hakluyt, Travel, III, 246 f., pages 69-88, George J. Prpic: Early Croatian Contacts with America and mystery of Kroatan, Journal of Croatian Studies, vol. National Geography: Ghost Fleet of the Outer Banks, no. 3, September 1969th, page 19 White: A letter written to Richard Haklout on February 4th, 1593. in the Hakluyt’s Primacy of the Navigation (Mac Lehose, NY) VIII, p. 418, Stefan Lorant, edition; The New World; First Pictures of the America
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SAŽETAK Ovaj tekst opisuje kako su, Hrvati u sastavu dubrovačke mornarice, koja je bila u sastavu španjolske mornarice, i kada prvi put stupili na američko tlo. Navode se točni podaci i izvori koji se nalaze u hrvatskim i inozemnim arhivima. Pisani dokumenti datiraju još iz XVI stoljeća. Opisuje se Dubrovačka mornarica u vrijeme otkrića Amerike, zatim o pojavi natpisa „Craotoan“ u predjelu današnje Sjeverne Karoline u XVI stoljeću. Nadalje tekst sadrži jezične tragove pronađene u pismu hrvatskog iseljenika, načelniku Grada Dubrovnika (1936.). UVOD S obzirom da sam nedavno posjetila Sjevernu Ameriku, dotično New York, sjetila sam se svog dragog prijatelja dubrovačkog liječnika, koji mi je poklonio jedan stari dokument o tome kada se pretpostavlja da su Hrvati prvi put dotaknuli američko tlo. Naravno riječ je o dubrovačkoj mornarici koja je u sastavu španjolske mornarice sudjelovala u otkriću Amerike. Te o indijancima koji su tako nazvani jer se smatralo da je to tlo Indije, a poslije je otkriveno da je to neka nova zemlja koja se danas zove Amerika. Smatrala sam da bi dio toga tekst trebalo podijeliti sa hrvatskom javnošću (i ostalom javnošću ukoliko ju to zanima) jer je vrlo zanimljiv. DUBROVAČKA MORNARICA U VRIJEME OTKRIĆA AMERIKE Pisani dokumenti o dubrovačkom pomorstvu datiraju još iz XII stoljeća, a nalaze se u Državnom arhivu u Dubrovniku. Dubrovački brodovi su na početku plovili po Sredozemlju, a otkrićem pomorskog puta oko Afrike u Indiju i otkrićem Amerike, centar međunarodne trgovine se polako pomiče na oceane. Tako se i dubrovačka mornarica snašla, te sagradila velike oceanske brodove za plovidbu oceanom. Od sredine XV, a osobito u XVI stoljeću, dubrovačka mornarica je bila jedna od najvećih na svijetu. Od nje su bile veće samo španjolska i nizozemska mornarica. Palladius Foscus iz početka XVI stoljeća kaže, da niti jedan dio Europe nije toliko udaljen da u njoj ne nađeš dubrovačke trgovce koji još prošlih godina imaju preko 300 brodova. Ivan M. Sagri izdao je 1573. godine u Veneciji knjigu o strujama u Atlantiku, koju je napisao njegov brat Nikola Sagri, kapetan najvećeg dubrovačkog broda “S. Spiritus et sancta Maria di Loreto”. Između ostaloga u knjizi se navodi kako dubrovačka mornarica sa skoro 100 brodova “siječe more u sva četiri dijela svijeta”[1]. Jednog od najvećih dubrovačkih brodova opisuje talijanski humanist i pisac Serafin Razzi. On je 11. rujna 1557. posjetio brod koji opisuje, a nalazio se na sidrištu u gradu Vasto u Abruzu (Italija). Navodi, da je taj brod najveći što plovi morem i nosi 1.200 kola žita, a posada broji 140 ljudi. Divio se njegovoj veličini i ljepoti. Njegova glavna soba imala je izrezani, oslikani i pozlaćeni strop, a neposredno uz nju veliki salon sa stropom “na ružu”. Imao je tri jarbola s koševima na vrhu i ljestvicama od užadi za penjanje. Iz gornjih izvora se vidi, da je Dubrovnik u XVI stoljeću imao jednu od najjačih flota na svijetu. Uz brojne manje obalne brodove, koji su plovili Jadranskim morem imali su i velike oceanske jedrenjake na koš sa kojima su održavali plovidbu na sve strane svijeta, a njihovi pomorci su dobro poznavali Atlantski ocean. Zbog pomorske djelatnosti naši pomorci stekli su tada veliki ugled u svijetu. Čak ih i Shakespeare spominje u svojim stihovima. Ova jaka mornarica, osim zarade u tranzitnoj trgovini, nije imala osvajačke porive prema kolonijama, koje su imale Španjolska, Portugal, Francuska, Nizozemska i Engleska, koje su se u tome međusobno natjecale. Španjolska, kao prva sudionica u otkrivanju Amerike, prisvojila je sebi čitav novootkriveni svijet, a rimski papa je to svojim blagoslovom potvrdio. Time je Španjolska mornarica postala najvažnija zapadnoeuropska država i vladarica na moru sa nekoliko primorskih država. Pri tome je koristila i Dubrovački Republiku te su njeni brodovi većim dijelom bili u službi Španjolske mornarice i sudjelovali u ekspedicijama i pomorskim ratovima. S obzirom da su dubrovački brodovi u sastavu španjolske mornarice sudjelovali u osvajanju gradova Korunje (1532.), u ekspediciji na Tunis (1535.), u armadi na Alžir (1541.) itd., pretpostavlja se da su naši pomorci među prvima stigli u novo otkrivene zemlje i da ih je bilo u otkrivanju Amerike. Također, su dubrovački brodovi sudjelovali u pomorskoj bici kod Lepanta 1571., u sastavu španjolske mornarice. Jedan član obitelji Martolosića s otoka Lopuda sudjelovao je kao pilot u otkrivanju toga kontinenta.[2] Članovi obitelji Ohmučevića nalazili su se u španjolskoj službi, a Petar OhmučevićIvelja sudjelovao je u blokadi Lisabona i u akcijama novootkrivenih zemalja Amerike koju su tada nazivali Indijom. Bio je prozvan generalnim kapetanom Indija. Nadaleko je bio čuven Vice Bune s otoka Lopuda. Njega je špaljolski kralj jako cijenio, te ga je kao svog izaslanika slao u Indiju i čak imenovao vicekraljem Meksika.[3] Za ove usluge su špaljolski vladari davali Dubrovačkoj Republici posebne povlastice i privilegije glede slobodne plovidbe i trgovine. I pojedini dubrovački pomorci bili su u španjolskoj službi, stekli velike zasluge i najveće časti španjolskih vladara. Za ove usluge španjolski vladari su davali Dubrovačkoj Republici posebne povlastice i privilegije u vezi slobodne plovidbe i trgovine. Oko desetak ovjerenih prijepisa s tih povlastica sačuvano je u dubrovačkom državnom arhivu. Špaljolska, koja je u ono vrijeme toliko čuvala svoje posjede u novootkrivenom svijetu, zabranila je drugim narodima svako trgovanje u tim posjedima u zapadnoj Indiji ili bilo gdje na novom kontinentu. Samo su španjolski i dubrovački brodovi mogli slobodno posjećivati španjolske posjede u novootkrivenom svijetu. O tome svjedoči putovanje što ga je 1597. i 1588. izvršila nava kapetana Matea Letiele, Dubrovčanina, koja je otplovila iz Kadiska za Indiju, kako se tada zvala Sjeverna Amerika. Ovo su potpisali svjedoci Dubrovčanin Pavao Ivanov Malitia i Marko Petrov, koji su u to vrijeme bili u Kadisku.[4] John u knjizi “Land of silent people”, („Zemlja tihih ljudi“)[5] spominje dubrovačke brodove i kaže da su Dubrovčani bili među prvima moreplovcima koji su došli u zaljev San Franciska i bili poznati pod imenom “Aragosy”. Po tome bi se moglo pretpostaviti, da su dubrovačke karake, koje su imale po stotinu i četrdeset ljudi posade, stradavale u nevremenu ploveći do tada još neotkrivenom istočnom obalom do Sjeverne Amerike. Spašena posada vjerovatno se iskrcala na nepoznatu obalu i tu ostala za sva vremena. Postoje i stvarni podaci da su neki Dubrovčani tijekom XVI stoljeća iselili i živjeli u novootkrivenim predjelima Amerike. Tako su oko 1520. godine iselila s otoka Koločepa u Zapadnu Indiju (Ameriku) dva brata Mato i Dominiko Konkegjević, tamo ostali preko trideset godina. ZAGONETNA POJAVA NATPISA “CROATOAN” Kada su se prvi Europljani iskrcali u zemlje koje danas zovemo Amerika, našli su ondje plemena, koja su u svom razvoju doprla do različitih stupnjava civilizacije, ali koja su sva, čini se pripadala istoj rasi ljudi, azijskog podrijetla.[6] Među mnogim domorodačkim plemenima koja su živjela uz obalu Atlantskog oceana, prema Ptolomeovom zemljopisu, poznatom iz 1598. godine, a pod naslovom Apalchen, misli se, da je Virginia nazvana po glavnoj skupini domorodaca zvanoj Virginia.[7] Istraživači su sve te američke domoroce nazvali Indijancima, jer su tadašnji geografi (zemljopisci), smatrali da Indija leži na zapadnoj obali Atlantskog oceana, pa je to ime i dalje ostalo.[8] Nakon Kristofora Kolumba koncem XV, a naročito u XVI stoljeću, veliki broj smjelih pomoraca istraživali su nove kontinente Prve engleske ekspedicije za uspostavljanje engleskih kolonija u predjelu današnje Sjeverne Karoline, ali bez uspjeha, jer su te prve kolonije, bez traga nestale, a ostalo je samo na deblu urezana riječ “CROATAN”. Godine 1581. na engleskom dvoru pojavio se Walter Raleight, koji se istakao u borbama protiv irskih buntovnika. On je sanjao o utemeljenju kolonije koja bi se suprotstavila španjolskom osvajanju u Novom Svijetu, pa je molio kraljicu da ga pusti organizirati i voditi ekspediciju u Sjevernu Ameriku i tamo osnuje engleske naseobine. Ona je dala novac za opremanje i vođenje ekspedicije, ali ju nije predvodio Raleight, nego kako slijedi. Prva ekspedicija vođena engleskim pomorcima Filipu Adamsu i Arthuru Barlow iz Engleske, stigla je u srpnju 1584. u blizinu otoka Roanoke. Tu je našla indijanska plemena Manteo i Wanchese. Tada su u knjizi Richarda Hakluyta, Voyages: “Vidjeli smo djecu koja bijahu vrlo fine kestenjaste puti i kestenjaste kose”.[9] Hawks zaključuje na osnovu izvještaja ovih prvih engleskih posjetilaca u ovome dijelu Amerike, da su Europljani morali biti među prvim domorocima prije Adamsa i Barlowa. Jer ostali iz ostalih tamošnjih indijanskih plemena su bili smeđožute puti, plosnatog lica, crne guste kose, kao Mongoli. Domoroci su im tada dali slijedeće objašnjenje: “Dvadeset šest godina prije (u 1558.g.), nepoznati brod upravljen bijelim ljudima bio je uništen blizu Secotana, …Neke iz posade su spasili domoroci… Nakon boravka od nekoliko tjedana na Wocotonu (Ocroake) oni su pokušali otploviti na slaboj domorođačkoj splavi, koju su nastojali upotrijebiti za njihovu plovidbu, a možda i poginuli. Njihovi čamci su odmah nakon toga, bili nađeni nasukani na obalama drugog otoka nedaleko Wocotona”. Domoroci su također izjavili o jednoj drugoj podrtini nađenoj na obali, nastradaloj u brodolomu koji se dogodio šest godina poslije, a što je moglo biti 1564. godine. Tu nije bilo preživjelih osim Indijanaca. Nakon dva mjeseca boravka u tim predjelima, ekspedicija je otputovala natrag u Englesku i sa sobom povela Mantea i Wanchesa. Oni su po dolasku u Englesku bili predstavljeni engleskoj kraljici Elisabethi. Druga engleska ekspedicija, koja je povela natrag Mantea i Wanchesa, 03. srpnja 1584. stigla na otok Ranoke.[10] U izvješću ove ekspedicije, prvi put se pojavilo ime “Croatan” kao mjesto rođenja Mantea na istoimenome otoku. Na starim zemljopisnim kartama ubilježen je otok Croatoan, koji leži između rta Cookon i rta Hatteras, a južnije od njega nalazi se otok Ocracoke. Treća engleska ekspedicija koju je također opremio Sir Raleight, a vodio J. White, 1587., uputila se u istom pravcu. Kada su stigli na odredište saznali su od prijateljskih Indijanaca, da je svih 15 ljudi koje su ostavile prethodne ekspedicije na otoku Roanoke, poginulo.[11] 13. kolovoza 1587. kršten je Manteo, a poslije mu je White, koji je imenovan za guvernera novih predjela, dao ime Lord od Roanoke i od Dasemunkepec i postavio ga za poglavicu plemena Roanoke. Pet dana kasnije, Eleonora, unuka guvernera White, rodila je kćer i u čast prvog bijelog krštenog djeteta rođenog u Sjevernoj Americi dato joj je počasno ime Virginia Dare.[12] J. White se vratio u Englesku 27. kolovoza 1587. (ostavio je koloniju na tome otoku), te se nakon tri godine 15. kolovoza 1590. vratio s potrebnom opskrbom, na isto mjesto. Međutim, tamo su našli samo travu i nešto gorućeg ognja, te na jednom stablu urezano CRO, a na drugom riječ CROATOAN. Međutim, drugi dan je počela oluja i nevrijeme pa su bili prisiljeni napustiti daljnje istraživanje i vratiti se u Englesku.[13] Ne zna se gdje su nestali prvi anglosaksonski kolonisti, pa je tako propao prvi pokušaj da na kraju XVI stoljeća osnuju prvu englesku koloniju u današnjim predjelima SADa. NEKI JEZIČNI TRAGOVI Pored zanimljivih, iako ne sasvim riješenih povijesnih podataka u vezi s imenom CROATOAN, zanimljivi su jezični tragovi koji se nalaze u pismu iseljenika Josipa Cuculića iz Chicaga, kojim se obratio 31. svibnja 1936. načelniku Grada Dubrovnika. On navodi da je u jednoj čikaškoj biblioteci pronašao knjižicu koju je napisao prije stotinu godina neki časnik vojske SADa, u kojoj je pronašao podatke o Croatan Indias: Evo što stoji, među ostalim, u tom pismu: “…sad počne ono što je mene ovdje više zanimalo, nego li običnog Amerikanca, jer sam stvarno našao u toj knjižici mnogo hrvatskom jeziku sličnih riječi i u smislu i u pismu i u izgovoru, te hoću, da Vam spomenem ovdje nekoliko riječi iz te knjižice, te će i Vas to zanimati, jer je tu rabljen Gundulićev dialekt hrvatskog jezika, te s toga tvrdim, da je lađa morala doći iz Dubrovnika”. Evo što naš iseljenik Josip Cuculić iznosi o nekim kroatiziranim riječima Croatan Indias koje je našao u spomenutoj knjižici: Uz Atlantik ne izgovaraju r kao r nego j Yournal (jojnal) Hroatan (hrvatski) otok Croatan island Potomci Kroatskih Indijanaca i danas žive u Sjedinjenim Američkim Državama. Prema pismu Josipa Cuculića, u knjižici Croatan Indias stoji da je brod došao u predjele rta Hatteras 1541. godine, da se u nevremenu razlupao o hridine obale Virginie, te su se brodolomci iskrcali na to kopno i postali veliki prijatelji domorodaca, poženili se njihovim djevojkama i tako se prozvali Croatan Indias. Tijekom vremena njihovi su se potomci raselili po cijelom SAD, a mnogi su prešli i u Kanadu, te ih ima i u SAD, što čistih, što miješanih, između 800.000 do 2.000.000, a neki od njih su bili kongresmani i senatori. Priča se da je bivši predsjednik SAD Coolidge (1923.1929.) bio njihov potomak, a moguće je da se prezivao Kulić ili Kucić. Mnogi Američki političari su Kroatske indijance htjeli ubrojiti među crnce (što je tada bilo stavljanje u građane drugog reda, a danas nakon posljednjih američkih izbora i pobjede predsjednika Obame bi se to promijenilo u stavljanje građana prvog reda), ali su se oni uvijek tome protivili, te su im na kraju popustili. Oni sada kao potomci bijele rase imaju u državi Virginiji svojih 30 pučkih škola u Robinson i Sampson counties (okruzima). Američki pisac jugoslavenskog porijekla Louis Adamich, u svojoj knjizi Narod naroda, piše o svim narodnostima koje žive u SAD, pa tako u istoj knjizi na str. 235, piše o ljudima jugoslavenskog podrijetla (knjiga je nastala prije raspada Jugoslavije). On navodi da su naši narodi (ovdje ne navodi na koje narode iz sastava bivše Jugoslavije, misli) ušli u povijest SADa. Ali u prethodnim dokumentima se govori o Croatskim Indijancima i o urezanom riječi CROATAN, što je prevedeno u Hrvatski Indijanci, pa pretpostavljamo da se radi o hrvatskom narodu. Između ostalog spominje da Kroatski Indijanci žive u robesenskoj oblasti u Sjevernoj Karolini, te da postoji i danas narod koji sebe naziva Kroatima i tvrde da su potomci kroatskih plemena. Drugi potomci, rekli su mu, žive u zapadnoj Virginiji i u kamberlanskoj oblasti Merilanda. U navedenim povijesnim podacima, spominje se ime već ovdje spomenutoga Kroatskog Indijanca Mantea. Na povratku u svoj kraj je dobio naslov Lorda i imenovan je poglavicom svoga plemena. Već tada se u engleskom izvješću spominje ime CROATAN, kao mjesto gdje se rodio Manteo, a nalazi se na otoku s istim imenom. Za ime Manteo moglo bi se tumačiti da je postalo od imena Mateo ili Mate, a tih imena ima mnogo u Dalmaciji. Ovdje bi mogli možda spomenuti i to, da su naši graditelji Sueckog kanala (1859.1869.) za vrijeme gradnje stanovali u Port Tewfiku kraj mjesta Sueca u naselju koje se i danas zove “Croati”. Na ovome se primjeru vidi da su se naši ljudi u prošlosti u stranom svijetu pod tim imenom nazivali. Sve ovo skupa je povezano s imenom CROATOAN, CROATAN I CROATI i može govoriti o našim ljudima u stranom svijetu koji su bili prozvani po imenu svoje narodnosti. Pri tome bi trebalo proučiti i navedenu knjižicu Croatan Indias koju je Josip Cuculić pronašao i čikaškoj biblioteci. Ovdje ćemo dodati i naučnika Thomasa Hariota, koji je sudjelovao u drugoj ekspediciji. On je k sebi uzeo Mantea, naučio ga engleski, a on od Mantea površno naučio Croatan jezik. Hariot je posebno proučavao narode tog područja i na povratku u Englesku 1588., napisao knjigu Brefe and Istinito izvješće o novopronađenoj zemlji Virginiji. I ovu kao i ostale knjige trebalo bi proučiti kao izvore u kojima se govori o prvim povijesnim tragovima bijelih ljudi na području rta Hatteras, ne obazirući se na mišljenja mnogih stranih naučnika, jer njihovo mišljenje ne mora biti uvijek točno. Na osnovu iznesenoga mogli bismo pretpostaviti da su naši pomorci bili prvi bijelci koji su naselili područje oko toga rta u SADu, a posao je naših znanstvenika da to, ukoliko je moguće, dalje istražuje jer nas kao pomorski narod ovo pitanje ipak zanima. ZAKLJUČNE NAPOMENE Ovaj tekst i se temelji na pisanim dokumentima, kako je u tekstu navedeno, pa su tako podaci vjerodostojni, te se ta djela čuvaju u nacionalnim bibliotekama (domaćim i inozemnim). Popis literature koja je korištena kod izrade ovoga teksta će biti naveden u posebnom dijelu popis literature. POPIS LITERATURE Sagri: Raspravljanje o raznolikosti zapadnog oceana, Kolekcija Nicole Sagria, Venezia 1574., Rukopisno djelo Serafina Razzi, Putovanja, sačuvano u nacionalnoj biblioteci u Firenzi, Rešetar, Dubrovački brod XVI stoljeće, Dubrovnik 1908., br. 13, str. 13, Razzi, Putovanja u Abruzzo, Firenze, 1969. Krasić, Serafin Razzi i Dubrovnik, Dubrovački horizonti, Zagreb, 1971., br. 78, str. 2630 Foretić, Udio naših ljudi u stranim mornaricama i općim pomorskim zbivanjima kroz stoljeća, jubilarni pomorski zbornik, I, Zagreb, 1962, str. 369302, Tadić, Prvi naši iseljenici u Americi, Politika, Beograd, uskršnji broj, 1940., str. Ptolomeo, Zemljopis, Univerzalni opis zemlje, Venezia, D.M. 1598., glava XXXIII, Opis Amerike ili „Indije“, str. 205, Maurois, Povijest SADa, 1942.1952., Albin Michel, Paris, 1955., prijevod Povijest Sjedinjenih Američkih Država, 1942.1952., Naprijed, Zagreb, 1960., str. 12, Francis L. Hawks, Povijest Sjeverne Karoline, Fayetevile: E.J.Hale&Sonn 1857., I, 80. Potpuno izvješće Amadasa i Barlowa, ponovno ispisano R. Hakluyt, Putovanja, III, 246 f., str. 69 George J. Prpić, Rani Hrvatski kontakti sa Amerikom i misterij Kroatana, Dnevnik Hrvatskih studija, vol. Nacionalni zemljopis, Ghost Fleet of Outer Banks, br. 3, Rujan 1969., str. 19, White, Pismo Richardu Hakluötu, pisano 4. veljače 1593., u Hakluyt’s Prvenstvo navigacije (Mac Lehose, NY), VIII, p. 418, Stefan Lorant, izdanje: Novi svijet, Prve slike Amerike,