THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 4 8y 



Enoch was the firft book of fcripturc they ever received. 

 They knew nothing of that of Seth, but place Job immedi- 

 ately after Enoch, io that they have no idea of the time in 

 which Job lived, but faid they believed it to be foon after 

 the flood ; and they look upon the book bearing his name 

 to be the performance of that prophet. 



Many difficulties occur from this account of the Falafha ; 

 for, though they fay they came from Jerufalem in the time 

 of Solomon, and from different tribes, yet there is but one 

 language amongft them all, and that is not Hebrew or Sa- 

 maritan, neither of which they read or understand ; nor is 

 their anfwer to this obje&ioirfatisfaftory, for very obvious 

 reafons. 



Ludolf, the moft learned man that has writ upon the 

 fubject, fays, that it is apparent the Ethiopic Old Teftament, 

 at leaft the Pentateuch, was copied from the Septuagint, 

 becaufe of the many Grecians to be found in it ; and the 

 names of birds and precious ftones, and fome other paffa- 

 ges that appear literally to be tranflated from the Greek. 

 He imagines alio, that the prefent Abyfiinian verfion is the 

 work of Frumentius their firft bifliop, when Abyffinia was 

 converted to Chriftianity under Abreha and Atzbeha, about 

 the year 333 after Chrilt, or a few years later. 



Although I brought with me all the Abyfiinian books of 

 the Old Teftament, (if it is a tranflation) I have not yet had 

 time to make the comparifon here alluded to, but have left 

 them, for the curiofity of the public, depofited in the Britifh 

 Mufeum, hoping that fome man of learning or curiofity 

 would do this for me. In the mean time I muft obferve, 



Vol. I. 3 Q^ that 



