On the Affinity of the Phenician and Celtic Languages. 25 
established and carried on an extensive commerce with India and all the coasts of the 
Erythrean or Indian ocean. Their ships visited the eastern coasts of Africa, and sup- 
plied Nubia and the countries about the upper regions of the Nile, with the rich ma- 
nufactures and products of India, and obtained gold, ivory, and other products of that 
country, in return. Their ports of Cana, Aden, Saba, and Macala, situated in Ara- 
bia Felix, at the entrance of the Arabian Gulph, were admirably circumstanced as to 
locality for the purposes of commerce, both with Asia and Africa. 
The direct testimony of Herodotus would be sufficient, in my mind, to settle the 
question, that the Sabeans or Homerite were the same people as the Phenicians ; but 
the evidence I shall soon lay before the Academy, comes with irresistible force, in 
corroboration of the statements of the father of history, and shows forth his fidelity 
and accuracy in a most extraordinary, if not an unexpected manner. 
We are now contemplating a period of remote antiquity—a time long before any 
written history, previous to the foundation of those most ancient cities, Sidon and 
Tyre, of whom the prophet Ezekiel says, “ whose antiquity is of ancient days ;” and 
the former is said to have been the first seat of Phenician commerce on the Mediter- 
ranean. It is not, perhaps, venturing too much, if we suggest, that through the 
African ports of Sabe, Avalites Emporium, and Malao, commerce and consequent 
civilization laid the foundation of Egypt’s glory and greatness ; and that the Sabean 
and Homeritz were the first to “lighten up the flame of commerce and consequent 
humanity’’ among that most ancient and magnificent people. 
With respect to the extent of the commercial and geographical discovery of the 
Homeritz, or Arabian Phenicians, history is silent, or nearly so: it has not come 
down to us but in imperfect glimpses, confused and unsatisfactory : the queen of the 
Sabeans, who visited Solomon, appears as sovereign of a highly cultivated nation, and 
supplies a few hints. Dyonisius (Periegetes) declares, they were originally from Chal- 
dea; but little, indeed, do we know of their acts or the extent of their power and 
commerce. The extent of their maritime discovery, however, for the first time, if [ 
have not deceived myself, are within our reach ; but before we enter into the detail, 
that the subject may be better understood, it may be as well to glance briefly at the 
origin and early history of the Arabians. 
The old patriarchal government and history of the Arabians, as detailed in the 
sacred writings, prove them to have been a very ancient people, and trace them back 
to ages near the deluge. They are divided into classes—the primitive Arabians, and 
the descendants of Ishmael, from whom the present Arabians are descended, 
The primitive Arabians are generally derived in descent, from Jokten the son of 
Eber, or Heber, of the line of Shem, whose son Jarab, or Yarab, is said (after the 
confusion of Babel) to have founded the kingdom of Yemen, and his brother Jorham, 
that of Hejaz. 
The kingdom Yemen was governed by princes of the tribe Hamyar, son of Saber, 
vol. XVI. GG 
