the king of Babylon, the Chaldean. The reason of all this, I think, is plain. It has been mentioned, that, when Babel was ruined, it lay unoccupied for ages: and the region of Babylonia seems to have been but thinly inhabited. The city was at last rebuilt: and when it was taken in hand, the work was carried on by the Chaldeans, under the inspection of Merodach Baladan, but chiefly of his son Nebuchadnezzar. He is expressly said to have "built it, and to have been a Chaldean. Hence Babylon is very truly represented, as the beauty of the Chaldeans excellence for that people raised its towers, and gave it an extent and magnificence superior to Erech, Ur, Borsippa, and every city of the nation. Indeed, if we may judge from the accounts transmitted, there was not a city in the world that could equal it in 38 grandeur and beauty. For this reason, the Chaldeans and Babylonians are spoken of as the same people; for they were originally the same family: and when they came to reside in the same province, there could be no difference between them. There were, however, some tribes which seem to the last to have been

27 Daniel. c. 4. v. 30.

38 Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans excellence. Isaiah above.

distinguished, and called, by way of eminence, Chaldeans. Such were those of Borsippa and Ur, so celebrated for philosophy and divination; out of whom came the Magi, Aruspices, and Soothsayers. Those of Ur were particularly styled Urchani, which may either signify Lords of Ur, or Priests of Fire. Strabo speaks much of the Chaldeans, and of their great wisdom and says, that from them, and from the Egyptians, the learning of Greece was derived. Such is the history of this city of the Chaldees, and of the country wherein it was situated.

7

OF

EGYPT,

AND

ITS FIRST INHABITANTS;

AND OF ITS

KINGS AND DYNASTIES.

THE land of Egypt consisted of a narrow region, which reached from Syene downwards to the upper point of Delta, following the course of the Nile. It was above five hundred miles in length, and on each side bounded by mountains, which terminated exactly where the region ended. At this point the Nile divided, and the country below for a great while was a morass: but when it came to have canals made, and to be properly drained, it turned out the richest, and at the same time the most beautiful part of Egypt. It was called Delta, and divided into numberless islands, which swarmed with inhabitants. In

I

consequence of this it abounded with towns and cities beyond any country upon earth, some of which seem to have been of great extent. These islands were finely planted; and the communication between them was kept up in boats and barges. In this manner they made their visits to particular temples at stated times; which voyages were attended with music, collations, and the highest festivity. In the course of their navigation they passed by innumerable towns and villages, surrounded with gardens well disposed, and abounding with trees of different sorts, particularly with palms and peach-trees, and groves of acacia. On the Lybian side, to the west, a large region seems to have been of old overflowed by the waters of the Nile, which had no outlet to pass freely, and became stagnant and unwholesome. An antient king took an opportu nity, during the recess of the Nile, to dig out the waste mud, and with it to form an head below; by which means he prevented the exuberant waters from descending any more to the lower country. All that was above he formed into a mighty lake, which comprehended a space of

2

Herod. 1. 2. c. 60. 61.

2 The Persica, a tree most acceptable to Isis. Plutarch. Is. et Osir.. p. 378.