OF

THE CHALDEANS,

AND

THEIR ORIGINAL

I HAVE shewn, that the distinction made by Africanus, Eusebius, and others, between Chaldean and Arabian kings, is void of all foundation: and, were the list, that they produce, genuine, it would determine the point against them. All that can be esteemed true in the series they produce, is the names of those, who are foremost in the list. And, however mistaken they may have been in those that follow; yet, setting them aside, we may learn, in respect to the Chaldeans, what was the opinion of these writers, and what tradition had taught them; that Ham, Chus, and Nimbrod were the heads of this nation. And as the Chaldeans were the most antient inhabitants of the country called by their name; there are no other principals, to whom we may refer their 'original. They seem to have been

• The Chaldeans were as antient as the empire of Babylonia, which commenced under Nimbrod, or Alorus-Ex twv AmeModwgu. VOL. VI.

T

2

the most early constituted, and settled, of any people upon earth: and from their situation it appears, and from every other circumstance, that Chus was the head of their family, and Nimbrod their first king. They seem to have been the only people, that did not migrate at the general dispersion and the center of their province was at Ur, not far from the conflux of the Tigris and Euphrates. From hence they extended themselves under the names of Cuseans and Arabians, as far as Egypt west, and eastward to the Ganges; occupying to the south all the Asiatic seacoast, and the whole of the large continent of Arabia: and from thence they passed the Erythrean gulf, and penetrated into Ethiopia. They were continually incroaching upon those, that were nearest to them; and even trespassed upon their own brotherhood. In process of time they got full possession of Egypt, and the whole coast of Africa upon the Mediterranean even to the Atlantic ocean, as far as Fez and Taffilet and are to be found within the tropics almost as low as the Gold coast. Upon the Gambia is the king of Barsally, of Arabian extraction, as are all the Phooley nations; who retain their original language, and are of the religion

Ταυτα μεν

ὁ Βηρωσσος ισόρησε, πρώτον γενεσθαι βασιλεα Αλωρον εκ Babuλwres Euseb. Chron. Aoy. IIgwг. pag. 5.

2 Syncellus. pag. 50.

of Mahomet. One of these, Job Ben Solomon by name, was not many years since in England. He had been unjustly seized on by a prince, his neighbour, and carried to America, where he was sold for a slave but writing an affecting account of his misfortune in his native tongue, it raised the curiosity, as well as pity, of some persons of consequence in these parts; who redeemed him, and sent for him over; and having shewn him singular marks of favour, at his request dispatched him to his own country.

3

3 He came to England in 1730.-See Moore's Travels into the inner parts of Africa.

OF

CHESED, THE SON OF NAHOR.

I AM well aware, that many people suppose the

Chaldeans to have been thus denominated from Chesed, who was the son of Nahor, the brother of Abraham. 'Dicti Chasdim, seu Chasdai (vulgo Chaldæi, facilioris soni causâ) sic denominati sunt a Chesed filio Nachor, fratris Abrahami, qui una cum filiis et posteris dictam urbem Ur, et tandem totam illam regionem inhabitârunt. This is very extraordinary: and spoken without the least historical evidence to support it. Chesed, the third son out of eight, who is mentioned but once, and then without any history annexed, is supposed to have given name to a very distinguished and celebrated people, and to the country, which they in habited; merely because his name was Chesed, and theirs Chasdim. The sacred historian seems in-. dustriously to specify this country. We are informed, that Terah departed with his son Abra

2

Hyde Relig. Vet. Persar. cap. 2. pag. 75.

2 Gen. 11. v. 29. 31.