PHYSICAL CONTEMPLATION OF THE UNIVERSE. 485 



of geodetic lines directed from N.E. to S.W., and from S.E., 

 to N.W. (the latter of which I consider to be the more 

 recent of the two), and whose cause must undoubtedly be 

 traced to disturbances in the interior of our planet, has 

 exercised the most important influence on the destiny of man- 

 kind, and in facilitating intercourse amongst different nations. 

 This relative position and the unequal degrees of heat expe- 

 rienced by Eastern Africa, Arabia, and the peninsula of 

 Western India at different periods of the year, occasion a 

 regular alternation of currents of air (Monsoons), favour- 

 ing navigation to the Myrrhifera Regio of the Adramites 

 in Southern Arabia, tc the Persian Gulf, India, and Ceylon; 

 for at the season of the year (from April and May to October) 

 when north winds are prevailing in the Red Sea, the south- 

 west monsoon is blowing from Eastern Africa to the coast of 

 Malabar, whilst the north-east monsoon (from October to April) 

 which favours the return passage, corresponds with the period 

 of the south winds between the straits of Bab-el-Mandeb and 

 the isthmus of Suez. 



After having sketched that portion of the earth to which 

 foreign elements of civilisation and geographical knowledge 

 might have been conveyed to the Greeks from so many different 

 directions, we will first turn to the consideration of those 

 nations inhabiting the coasts of the Mediterranean, who en- 

 ipyed an early and distinguished degree of civilisation, viz., 

 fiie Egyptians, the Phoenicians with their north and west 

 African colonies, and the Etrurians. Immigration and com- 

 mercial intercourse have here exercised the most powerful 

 influence. The more our historical horizon has been extended 

 in modern times by the discovery of monuments and inscrip- 

 tions as well as by philosophical investigation of languages, 

 the more varied does the influence appear which the Greeks in 

 the earliest ages experienced from Lycia and the district sur- 

 rounding the Euphrates, and from the Phrygians allied to 

 Thracian races. 



In the valley of the Nile, which plays so conspicuous a part 

 in the history of mankind, " there are well authenticated car- 

 touches of the Kings as far back as the beginning of the fourth 

 dynasty of Manetho, in which are included the builders of 

 the Pyramids of Giseh (Chephren or Schafra, Cheops-Chufu, 

 and Menkera or Mencheres)." I here avail myself of the 



