2l6 ESSAY ON 



The compiler of the list, brought from Assam by 

 the late Dr. Wade, was well infoinied, with regard 

 to the last blow given to this dynasty oi AlanicheanSj 

 by AaiiR-TiMUR, in the remains of a feeble tribe of 

 them, at Toglock-poor. But it is much more reason- 

 able, I think, to place the overthrow of that dynasty 

 in the latter end of the twelfth century. 



There was in Egypt a certain Scytiitanus, who 

 had studied, it seems, at Alcvandria, and visited the 

 anchorets of Thebais. He went by sea to India, ac- 

 cording to St. Epiphanius, and brought thence four 

 books, containing the most extravagant notions : 

 but he died, before he could preach his new doctrine, 

 in the latter end of the second century. He was 

 succeeded by his disciple, called Tehebinthus, who- 

 went into Palestine ; but was obliged to fly to Persia, 

 where he declared he was another Budda or Buddha, 

 and, like him, born of a virgin, and brought up by 

 angels, among certain mountains. Perhaps this new 

 name was concealed in the old one Terebinthus, 

 from the Arabic Daru-Botam. Botajti m Arabic, 

 and Butam, or But hem, in Chaldaic, signify a Tere- 

 binth in general ; but the largest and best sort i& 

 called, in the former language, Darn-botam, which 

 may possibly ha;'e son)e affinity with the Buddham- 

 gackli, or Buddham-TeriL of the Ceylanese and Daud- 

 DHAS in general, and which signifies the tree of 

 Bl'ddha, for Gach'h in the spoken dialects, and 

 Teru ov Dru, in Sanscrit, signify a tree. For he said,, 

 when he entered upon his mission, Se nonjam Tere- 

 EixTiiUM std alium Buddam vocari, that he was no 

 longer Terebinthus, but another Buddha *. The 

 Terebinth is unknown in India, except beyond the 

 Indus, where I am told that there are forests, of that 

 sort which produce the Pistachium, or Pistachio^ 

 called Pistd, in that Country, and all over India. 



* Salm Asius de Hoiuonyrais, and AIj»liab. Tib. P. 370. 



