i So UNIVERSAL ERUDITION^ 



The language called Sclavonian, which t^ey aU- 

 fpeak, but in different dialects, leems to confirm 

 this conjecture. All the colonies of the great 

 nation of Sarmatia took, in the fixth century, the 

 name of Sclavi -, by which they meant to exprefs 

 that they were purfuers of glory, for fuch is the 

 import of that word in the Sclavonian language. 

 That of Ruffia, or Roffaia^ implies a people that 

 are difperfed , and this etymology is confirmed 

 by Procopius, a Greek hiftorian of the fixth 

 century. The ftory of one Rufilis, the brother 

 of Lexkhus and Czekhus, is an invention of 

 modern writers among the lllyrians or Dal- 

 matians. 



In the years 86 1 and 862, the inhabitants of 

 Ruffia chofe for their governors three Varegean* 

 princes, Rurika, who firft fixed his refidence at 

 Ladoga - 9 Sineus, at Bielo Ofero, and Trnvera at 

 Ifborka. The two laft died without children 

 in the fpace of two years. By that means Rurika 

 became fole fovereign of Ruffia; and having 

 augmented the city of Novogrod, which had 

 been lately built, he there eftablifhed his refi- 

 dence. In 878, this great prince, Rurika, died, 

 and left Igora, his fon, under the tutelage of 

 Olegha, his uncle , he governed Ruffia thirty- 

 five years. When Igora came to age of matu-. 

 rity, he efpouled a young maiden of Plefkovv, 

 named Olpha. This prince was mafTacred by 

 the Drevelians about the year 945, and Sueto- 

 fiava, his fon, reigned in his (lead, under the tu- 

 telage of his mother Olpha, with whom he al- 

 ways 



