76 BABYLONIAN LITERATURE. 



of the singularities which have led Dr. 

 Chwolson to adopt his theory ; and, 2nd, to 

 explain how the composition of such writings 

 was possible in Babylon, at the period which 

 I have assigned to them. 



Two strange peculiarities give an un- 

 doubted appearance of solidity to Dr. 

 Chwolson' s hypothesis : the first is the 

 term Canaanite, applied to the reigning 

 dynasty of Babylon at the period of the 

 composition of "The Book of JNTabathsean 

 Agriculture ;" and the second, that there 

 are names of Babylonian kings mentioned 

 in the lt Agriculture " which are not found 

 in any known dynasty. The assertion of 

 Kuthami as to what concerns the Canaanite 

 dynasty, is not so isolated as it appears at 

 first sight. Many Arabian historians and 

 geographers, some of whom are anterior to 

 the Arabic translation of "The Book of Na- 

 bathaean Agriculture," speak of Canaanite 

 kings reigning at Babylon, and Nemrod is 

 expressly mentioned as the founder of this 

 dynasty, which they connect by the most 



