BAYBLONTAN LITERATURE. 43 



solutions, which would explain every puzzling 

 passage in ancient writings by characterising 

 them as interpolations : it is more willing 

 to admit of the hypothesis of successive re- 

 touching and remodelling carried on from 

 age to age. It is certain that the remains 

 of early antiquity have been altered much 

 oftener in this way than by the frauds of 

 copyists — copyists in all ages have pro- 

 ceeded more machanically. 



But why dwell further on this passage, 

 when Dr. Chwolson admits that the author 

 of " The Book of JNabathsean Agriculture" 

 speaks in many places of the Persians, their 

 religion, their philosophy, and their science ; 

 and always with an expression of the 

 greatest respect. 1 How is it possible to 

 doubt that he was acquainted with the 

 doctrines of the Zend Avesta, when he 

 speaks of the plant which the "Magi term 

 Horn" 2 (*yb), calling this plant thus by the 

 most modern form of its name. Dr. Chwolson 



1 Page 41. 



2 See Anquetil-Duperron, Livres Sacres de Zoroaster, Index, at 

 the word Horn, 2. 



