A New York lecturer has set out to uncover a forgotten part of Bermuda's history.

Dr. Phillip Rabito-Wyppensenwah has spent years researching American Indian slavery on the Island.

And now he plans to publish a book next year entitled: "Ethnographic History of Bermuda's native Americans.'' He also hopes to organise a series of archaeological digs to unearth the Island's past -- literally.

"Every building now put up destroys a little bit of Bermuda's history,'' he said.

"It's important that surface surveys are carried out so we can get an actual record of what happened.'' Ten years ago, for instance, he discovered pottery dating back to the 1700s at an old church in St. George's.

"Native American slavery has been rarely investigated fully. It has been totally forgotten.

"Nobody knows what went on here, and it should be brought to light. In Bermuda and the United States we are not taught about it.

"In contrast, most of the world knows about African American slavery.'' Dr. Rabito-Wyppensenwah is also planning to arrange a conference on the slave history of Bermuda and America.

"I would like it to be in Bermuda to promote the Island's history.'' Dr. Rabito-Wyppensenwah, who has lectured at New York University, describes himself as a freelance researcher.

Most of his research has been carried out by sifting through Bermuda's archives.

He has also been poring over copies of colonial newspapers in the United States, which will form the basis of another book.

Called, "News from Bermuda'', it should be published in January 1994.

Some of the news items, dating back to the 1700s, provide a fascinating glimpse into life at the time.

In December 4, 1728 the Providence Gazette , for instance, carried an account about a plan by Dr. Barkeley, Dean of Derry in Ireland, to build a college in Bermuda.

It was designed for "instruction of youth in all manner of liberal sciences and learned arts''.

According to the paper, Dr. Barkeley sailed in a 250-ton hired ship to the West Indies with a cargo including 20,000 books.

His plan included buying an estate in Rhode Island and setting up trade links with Bermuda, supplying it with black cattle and sheep.

"I don't know what became of the plan, but it didn't seem to succeed,'' said Dr. Rabito-Wyppensenwah.

The Boston Newsletter carried a piece in August 1715 about a sea disaster involving Bermudian ships.

"...we are informed that in the great Storm about the 10th of July last, there were six Bermuda sloops cast away on Turks Island, the men were all saved except one little boy and that a seventh sloop got away from amongst the rocks with great difficulty by cutting her cable, came safe to Bermuda and gave account of the rest that were lost...'' And the same paper in 1707 had an item about the French firing at a pilot boat.

The pilot was shot through the body, and the French took an Indian slave belonging to him.

"This is interesting because it shows what kind of work Indian slaves did.

Here he was helping the pilot,'' said Dr. Wyppensenwah.

Dr. Wyppensenwah said he hoped to destroy some of the myths surrounding Indian slaves.

One was the belief most were Arawak Indians shipped over to Bermuda from the Caribbean.

"This is wrong. Most came from Central America, the southern colonies of North America and the New England colonies.'' Dr. Wyppensenwah said there was a record of a Mayan Indian from Guatemala, part of the Spanish empire, coming here.

Dr. Wyppensenwah has been able to record as many as 150 American Indian slaves coming to Bermuda, between 1644 and 1740.

Dr. Rabito-Wyppensenwah.