Greek Fire of the Middle Ages. 25 
nicated it or not, appears to me as capable of proof as can be 
expected under similar circumstances. When Gibbon says 
that the Mahometans borrowed the invention from the Chris- 
tians during the wars of the crusades, he forgets that the 
Arabians learned their chemistry from the Egyptians, by whom 
that art was practised three hundred years at least before the 
time of Mahomet. That they also borrowed from a still more 
distant oriental source, appears equally certain. 
But to return to the supposed invention of Callinicus: naphtha 
is said to have been one of the chief ingredients in this compo- 
sition. This substance is well known to be very common in 
many parts of the ancient Persian kingdom and in India; near 
the Caspian sea it occurs over an extensive tract of country. 
It arises out of the ground in the form of vapour or otherwise, 
in such abundance as to be commonly used for domestic 
purposes; it was also an object of religious attention to 
the worshippers of fire. It is noticed, among other au- 
thors, by Judas Maccabzus, ‘or rather by the compiler of 
that history. 
Now it is much more probable, that a burning compound in 
which this was an ingredient, should have been invented where 
the substance abounded, than where it was unknown. The 
latter is barely possible, but far from likely; and if it can be 
proved, that the use of inflammable compositions in war or 
otherwise, was known tothe eastern nations before the time 
of Callinicus, his claim to this invention falls to the ground. 
The Arabian claims of a more modern date are already ex- 
cluded; nor can these people, at any former period, have a 
title to the discovery, if it can be shewn that its source lies 
further to the eastward. There seems little reason to doubt 
that all the Arabian learning, as well as their algebra, had its’ 
origin in India; the parent it is probable of Egypt itself, and 
the great ancient source of all art and science. 
The true nature of this composition, or rather of these inven- 
tions, (for it will be seen that there are more than one,) will be 
examined hereafter.. In the mean time itis necessary to remark, 
that the same effects have been attributed to different contri- 
