My first American ancestor, gentlemen, was an Indian-an early
Indian. Your ancestors skinned him alive, and I am an orphan. All
those Salem witches were ancestors of mine. Your people made it
tropical for them.... The first slave brought into New England out of
Africa was an ancestor of mine-for I am a mixed breed, an infinitely
shaded and exquisite Mongrel.
-- Mark Twain (1835-1910)