Indian, He adds, that it was also called Ethiopia, from a body of Ethiopians who settled there, 27 περὶ ὧν πολλοι των παλαιων ιςορεσι : of whom many of the antient historians make mention. They might well take notice of them, for their arrival was a wonderful æra, and much to be remembered in the annals of Egypt, Though they behaved in a tyrannical manner, yet they performed mighty works, and benefited the country greatly. Their very oppression obliged the Mizraïm to exert themselves, and afforded them an opportunity of improving both in literature and arms. Hence the latter were of necessity enriched with much knowledge, to which other, wise they had been strangers.

28

:

At the time when the Cuthite Ethiopians arrived, Lower Egypt was in great measure a 25 morass but under their direction it was drained by numerous canals, and rendered the most beautiful country in the world. They carried a sluice with vast labour from the Pelusiac branch of the

27 Εκλήθη δε ποτε κατα την ίσοριαν ή τοιαύτη χώρα, και Αερία, και Ποταμια, και Αιθιοπια δια τες εκει Αιθίοπας, κτλ. Eustath. in Di onys. ad v. 239. See Eusebii Chron. p. 29.

४

28 Καθόλυ γαρ την νυν εσαν Αίγυπτον λεγεσιν 8 χώραν, αλλά θα λατταν γεγονέναι κτλ. Diodor. 1. 3. p. 144.

ή

Πασα ἡ χώρα ποταμοχωτος.

Θάλασσα γαρ ην η Αιγυπτος.

Ibid.

Plut. Is. et Osiris. p. 367.

31

Nile to the western gulf of the Red Sea. Part of it remains at this day, and passes through Grand Cairo towards Matarea, and is kept up with 29 great care. The chief of the pyramids at Cochome were erected by them. Herodotus mentions a tradition of their being built in the time of the Shepherd 30 Philitis, when Egypt was under great calamities; when princes reigned whose names were held by the people in abomination. The modern Arabs have accounts of their being built by "Ian Ebn Iän. By this is signified, that they were constructed by the Iönim, the sons of that Iön, called Ionas, and Ionichus, of Babylonia. Juba in his history took notice, that the city Heliopolis was not the work of the native Egyptians, but of 3 Arabians: by which name the sons of Chus are continually distinguished. They raised the most antient obelisks in Egypt; which were formed of one piece, yet of an amazing size and the granate, of which they consist, is so hard, that scarcely any tool now-adays can make an impression. Hence it is matter of wonder, how they were originally framed and

29 See Pocock, and Norden's Travels in Egypt.

30 Herod. 1. 2. c. 128.

31 Herbelot Biblioth. Oriental.

32 Plin. 1. 6. p. 343.

engraved. They were full of hieroglyphics, curiously wrought; which, as we learn from Cassiodorus, were antient "Chaldaïc characters. These were the sacred characters of Egypt, known only to the priests; which had been introduced by the Cuthite Ethiopians.

34

I have often taken notice of a common mistake among the Greek and Roman writers; who, when the sacred terms grew obsolete, supposed the Deity of the temple to have been the person by whom it was built. Thus it is said of the Chaldaïc God Mithras, that he first erected the obelisks in Egypt. " Primus omnium id (obeliscorum erectionem) instituit Mitres, qui in Solis Urbe regnavit, somnio jussus. Mitres was no other than Mithras, the same as Arez, and Osiris, who was greatly reverenced in the eastern world.

35

33 Obeliscorum prolixitas ad Circi altitudinem sublevatur : sed prior Soli, inferior Lunæ dicatus est: ubi sacra priscorum Chaldaicis signis, quasi literis, indicantur. Cassiodorus. 1. 3. Epist. 2. and Epist. 51.

They had two sorts of letters. Διφασιοισι δε γραμμασι χρεωνται.

Herod. 1. 2. c. 36.

34 Plin. l. 36. c. 8.

35 By this, however, is pointed out the nome in which the Cuthites settled: the same as Zoan, of which Goshen was a part.

says,

He did not reign at "Heliopolis; but was there adored nor did he raise the obelisks; but they were erected to his honour. His rites were introduced into Egypt by the people abovementioned. But he was more commonly represented under the character of Osiris and Orus. Stephanus, in like manner, speaks of Mithras, as a man, and joins him with Phlegyas. He 36 that these two were the authors of the Ethiopic rites and worship: for they were by birth Ethiopians: which people were the first nation constituted in the world; and the first, which enacted laws, and taught men to reverence the Gods. All this is true of the Chaldaic Ethiopians. A large body of this people settled in Ethiopia above Egypt: and from their history we may learn how much the Egyptians were indebted to their ancestors. They in some degree looked upon the Egyptians as a 37 colony from their family; and so far is true, that they were a draft from the great Amonian

36

Την γας

Αιθιοπίαν γην πρώτην παγήναι, πρωτοι δε Θεός ετιμης σαν, και νομοις εχρησαντο. Ονομάζεσι δε τις αιτίες τέτων Μιθραν και Φλεγύαν, ανδρας Αιθίοπας το γενος. Steph. Byzant. By this we find, that the sons of Chus, called here Ethiopians, were the first constituted people, and the authors of idolatrous rites. 37 Φασι δε Αιγυπτιες αποικὲς ἑαυτῶν ὑπαρχειν. Diodor. 1. 3. p. 144.

body, of which the Mizraim and the Cuthites were equally a part. Nothing can more satisfactorily prove that the Cuthite Ethiopians had been in Egypt, and ruled there, than the laws of the 38 country, which were plainly Ethiopic. And not only the laws, but, as we are assured by "Diodorus, the rites of sepulture, and the ho nours paid to the antient kings, their ancestors, were Ethiopic Institutions. I have mentioned from Cassiodorus, that the sacred characters upon the obelisks were of Chaldaic original; which is the same as Ethiopic. In confirma tion of this, Diodorus tells us, that these charac ters in Egypt were known only to a few who were of the priesthood. But that in Ethiopia they were the national character, and universally "understood. In short, this writer assures us, that the rites in both nations had a great resemblance, so as to be nearly the same.

40

42

The

38 Τα δε πλείςα των νομίμων τοις Αιγυπτιοις ὑπαρχειν Αιθιοπικα. Diodor. 1. 3. p. 144.

39 Ibid.

40 Diodorus makes mention Αιθιοπικών γραμμάτων των παρ' Αιγυπτίοις καλυμένων Ιερογλυφικων. p. 145.

41 Παρα δε τους Αιθίοψιν απαντας τουτοις χρησθαι τοις τύποις. p. 144.

42 Τατε συτήματα των Ιερέων παραπλησίαν έχειν ταξιν παρά αμε Φοτέροις τοις εθνεσι. Ibid.