are divided into two nations, and are the most remote of mankind. One nation of them is towards the setting sun; the others far in the east, where the sun rises. But this is much too limited. For, as the Cuthites got access into various parts of the world, we shall find an Ethiopia in most places where they resided. The Scripture seems to mention three countries of this name. One, and the nearest to Judea, was in Arabia, upon the verge of the desert, near Midian and the Red Sea. This is alluded to by the prophet Habakkuk, where he says that he saw the tents of Cushan in affliction; and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble. A second Ethiopia lay above Egypt to the south; and is taken notice of by the prophet Ezekiel, where he is foretelling the destruction of the latter country, and says, that it shall be laid waste from one extreme part to the other. 16 Behold, therefore, I am against thee,

15 Habakkuk. c. 3. v. 7.

16 Ezekiel. c. 29. v. 10. Our version seems to be very faulty, and renders the passage, from the tower of Syene unto the borders of Ethiopia, or Cush. In a former treatise I was under a mistake, from understanding it in this light: but was led to the right interpretation by the version of Xantes Pagninus and Montanus. Migdol, or Magdalum, was a fort not far from Pelusium, at one extremity of the country: Syene was the uttermost city at the other extreme, and stood under the Tropic upon the borders

and against thy rivers: and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from Migdol to Syene and the borders of Ethiopia. The third country, styled Ethiopia, comprehended the regions of Persis, Chusistan, and Susiana. 17 Herodotus takes notice of Ethiopians about these parts and the country is mentioned by the prophet Zephaniah, when he speaks of the return of Judah from captivity. 18 From beyond the rivers of Cushan, or Ethiopia, my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed shall bring mine offering. The principal rivers to which he referred, were the 19 Ulai, Kur, Chobar, and Choaspes;

of Ethiopia. The meaning of the prophet is plain, that the whole length of Egypt, north and south, from Migdol the garrison to Syene, shall be utterly made desolate. Syene stood at the extremity of Pathros, or superior Egypt; Migdol, the fort, was near Daphnæ Pelusiæ, upon the sea. Jeremiah states the chief divisions of the country very accurately, speaking of the Jews who dwelt in the land of Egypt: which dwell at Migdol, and at Tahphanes, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros. c. 44. v. 1. See Observations and Inquiries, &c. vol. vi. p. 123.

οι γάρ

17 Οι δε απ' ήλιο ανατολεων Αιθιοπες, διξοι εσρατεύοντο, προσετετάχατο τοισι Ινδοισι. διαλλάσσοντες είδος μεν εδεν τοισι ἕτεροι

σι, φωνην δε και τριχωμα μενον. 1. 7. c. 70. p. 541.

18

19

Zephaniah. c. 3. v. 10.

Upon the banks of the Ulai, or Eulæus, the prophet Da, niel had his visions. Even Chaldea was esteemed Ethiopia; and

21

all eastern branches of the Tigris, near which were the chief places of captivity. Still further east, beyond Carmania, was another region of this name, which by Eusebius is termed 20 A1010πια, ἡ βλέπεσα κατα Ινδες, προς Ευρόνοτον, the Ethiopia, which looks towards the Indi, to the southeast and even the Indi themselves, will in the sequel be found to have been Ethiopians. The sons of Chus came into Egypt under the name of Auritæ and Shepherds, as also of Ethiopians, Hence Egypt too inherited that name: Εκλήθη δε (Αίγυπτος)και Αερια, και Ποταμια, και ΑΙΘΙΟΠΙΑ, δια της εκει Αιθίοπας, περι ὧν πολλοι των παλαιων ιςορεσι. This country was called-both Aeria, and Potamia, or the River Country; also Ethiopia; which name it received from some Ethiopians, who settled there; and of whom many of the very antient writers have spoken. The Cuthites settled at Colchus, the Colchis of the Greeks: in consequence of which it was called Cutaia and Ethiopia. 22 Jerome, in his Catalogue of Ecclesiastical Writers,

Tacitus, speaking of the Jews, whose ancestors came from Ur in Chaldea, styles them Æthiopum prolem. Histor. 1. 5. c. 2.

20 Euseb. Chron. p. 12. he adds, aλn Albioria @pos votov, ödev εκπορεύεται ὁ Νείλος ποταμος.

21 Eustath. Comment. in Dionys. v. 241. p. 42.

22 Hieron. de Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis.

mentions St. Andrew preaching the gospel in the towns upon the two Colchic rivers, the Apsarus and Phasis; and calls the natives Ethiopians, Andreas, frater Simonis Petri, ut majores nostri prodiderunt, Scythis, Sogdianis, et Saceis in Augusta civitate prædicavit, quæ cognominatur magna; ubi est irruptio Apsari, et Phasis fluvius : illic incolunt Æthiopes interiores. He relates the same circumstance of Matthias. In alterâ Ethiopiâ, ubi est irruptio Apsari, et Hyssi portus, prædicavit. The port of Hyssus near Colchis is taken notice of by Arrian in his Periplus, and by Socrates in his life of the same saint: Εν τη δευτερα Αιθιοπία, όπε ἡ παρεμβολη Αψαρε, και Ύσσε λιμην. I have observed that the sons of Chus are said to have come under the titles of Casus and Belus into Syria and Phenicia, where · they founded many cities: and we are informed by Strabo, that this country was called Ethiopia. 33 Εισι δε δι και την Αιθιοπίαν εις την καθ' ἡμας Φοινίκην μεταγεσι. There are people who would introduce an Ethiopia into the region which we esteem Phenicia. In the account of the Cadmi

23

23 Strabo. 1. 1. p. 73. These nations were the Scythæ of the Grecians. Hence it is said, Ayuπtiv aπOIXI εισιν οι Σκύθαι. Pind. Pyth. Od. 4. Schol. ad v. 376. for they were a known colony from Egypt.

ans, who are styled Arabians, Agabes of σuv Kadμy, I have shewn that Euboea was the place to which they first came: and here was and here was a place called 24 Ethiopium. Samothrace was also so called: 25 Αιθιοπία, ἡ Σαμοθρακη. The extreme settlement of this people was in Spain, upon the Bætis, near Tartessus and Gades: and the account given by the natives, according to the historian Ephorus, was, that colonies of Ethiopians traversed a great part of Africa: some of which came and settled near Tartessus; and others got possession of different parts of the sea-coast. Λεγεσθαι γαρ φησιν

26

ύπο των Ταρτησσιων Αιθίοπας την Λιβυην επελθοντας μέχρι δύσεως, της μεν αυτε μειναι, τες δε και της παραλίας κατασχειν πολλην. They mention it as a tradition among the people of Tartessus, that the Ethiopians once traversed the regions of Africa, quite to its

24 Strabo. 1. 10. p. 683. de Cotho et Cadmo.

Αιθιοπίον ονομα χωρίς εν Ευβοια. Harpocration.

—— WANTTO EURIT. Steph. Byzantinus.

25 Hesychius. Lesbos had the name of Ethiope and Macaria. Plin. Nat. Hist. 1. 5. c. 31. p. 288.

Arabians sometimes distinguished from the sons of Chus. Moreover, the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians. 2 Chron, c. 21. v. 16.

Beth Arabah.

26 Strabo. 1. 1. p. 57.