102 CHAPTER XIII. 



express something straight and hollow : for instance 

 the straight measuring rod or " canon," the hollow 

 " cannon " compare the word " rohr," that is, Reed, 

 for the Dutchman's rifle. " Canal " and " channel " 

 are from the same source : so also " can," German 

 " Kanne." If we suppose a primitive root, Kan = 

 water ; then as Canna is a water plant, so the Greek 

 Khen, a goose, would mean " water-bird." I am 

 aware that this is not the received etymology, and I 

 know that Professor Max Miiller will not allow any 

 connection between Aryan and Semitic roots ; but I 

 believe that both Aryans and Semites inherited from 

 the peoples whom they overran many names of places 

 and of things. 



Where the ground is marshy, and favourable to 

 the growth of these conspicuous grasses, the land- 

 scape will have a peculiar character. If these Reed 

 stems were, as it appears, of great value for war or 

 hunting gear, the spot where they could be obtained 

 would be still more remarked and better remembered. 

 The nearest town or village would take its name from 

 such a landmark. Thus many a town is called after 

 the Arundo. Canntv, an obscure village in the far 

 south-east of Italy, " ignolAlis Apulia? ricus" where 

 Hannibal inflicted on the Romans that fourth and 

 almost fatal blow ; Canossa, again, whither Bismarck 

 vowed he would not go, but went ; then Cannes, 

 neighbour and rival of Nice ; lastly, a small but very 

 famous village, renowned for the marriage feast, to 

 which a certain Heretic and Reformer was invited 

 from his home in Nazareth close by. 



The position of Cana in Galilee is not known 

 w r ith certainty : two spots lay claim to the honour. 



