3i6 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book III. 



ding, fubftrading, multiplying, and dividing, pradlifed in the eafieft 

 way. This art, however, was abfolutely unknown to the Greeks 

 and Romans. But, I think, it is probable, that it was an Egyptian 

 invention in later times, after they had taken to alphabetical writing, 

 and difufed hieroglyphical : So that, I believe, it came from Egypt 

 to India as well as other arts. For, I can hardly perfuade myfelf 

 that the Indians could have invented it, any more than other arts, 

 which they certainly got from Egypt : Nor do I think, it is well 

 vouched that the Indians have invented any art of any confequence. 



The notation of numbers by the antient Egyptian, Roman, and 

 Indian marks, is all that remains in Europe of the moft antient of 

 all writing, that is the hieroglyphical. And, though it be very much 

 inferior to the alphabetical writing, which, at the fame time that it 

 prefents to us the ideas intended to be expreffed, gives us alfo the 

 language or founds, by which fpeech expreiTes them ; (fo that we 

 have, at the fame time, a language that is both fpoken and writ- 

 ten) ; yet, with regard to the expreflion of numbers, it is much 

 more commodious than any language that is fpoken or written: For 

 no great operations upon numbers could be performed either by 

 words or writing ; whereas, by thofe hieroglyphical marks, and 

 particularly by the Arabian cyphers, as we call them, they are per- 

 formed with the greateft eafe, and alfo with the greateft clearnefe 

 and diftindtnefs. 



Thus, I think, I have proved, that arts and fciences came from 

 Egypt to India, even the neceffary arts of life, fuch as agriculture. 

 And, indeed, the Indians, when the Egyptians came among them, 

 were in fuch a barbarous ftate, that, I think, it is impoffible, they 

 could have invented any art of the lead value, and much lefs fcience: 

 And I will endeavour to prove, in the next chapter, that they had 

 not invented that art, which is the parent art of all others, and at the 



fame 



